m 






/ 




^°^- 


J- 




,s "« r 


% 






-^^\v 



'^^. ,# 

,^%:. 




v\ 






^oo^ 






^^ v^ 



;e- 









'. -'c- 






^ 'f' 



0^ 



^^ ' 












*f<... 



'^'^■, 















vOO. 



^^^ "^- 



•:*-, 



,-^^i^-^,* ^, 



'^ 













-^^ . vV...,.^^;^ ' 



o 






vOC> 









^. ^ « > * >r 




x^'u. 










<; 






G" ,' 



•^oo^ 






^' 



.s^ 



<^ ,. >i 



-^ 



-0" .^ 







Reminiscences 



OF 



Scottish Life and Character 



JeJXZi 



h^i A 



BY 



«*^G^ HuCC 



J 



E.' BrRAMSAY, M.A., LL.D., F.R.S.E. 

DEAN OF EDINBURGH. 



TJie Seco7id Series. 



EDINBURGH: 
EDMONSTON AND DOUGLAS. 

1861. 



To his Scottish Countrymen 
who love Scotland, these pages 
are dedicated by the Author, 
with the fond hope of tmiting 
all Scottish heaiHs in the kindly 
feelings of 

'' Attld Langsyiter 



CONTENTS. 



000 

PAGE 

Preface ........ ix 

Introductory xvii 



CHAPTER I. 

On Religious Feelings and Religious Observances . i 

CHAPTER II. 

On Old Scottish Conviviality .... 34 

CHAPTER III. 

On the Old Scottish Domestic Servant ... 45 

CHAPTER IV. 

On Humour proceeding from Scottish Language, in- 
cluding Scottish Proverbs .... 54 




PAGE 



vi Contents. 

CHAPTER V. 

On Scottish Stories of Wit and Humour ... 89 
Manners and Customs . . . , . .167 

Concluding Remarks 203 

Index . • . 223 



PREFACE. 



-000 




T is with much diffidence that I ven- 
ture to publish a second volume of 
^^ Reminiscences of Scottish Life and 
Character.'' I am well aware that continua- 
tions or second parts seldom sustain the inte- 
rest of an original work. I could scarcely 
hope, indeed, that another volume should 
enjoy the popularity of its predecessor, and 
at one time I had given up the idea of pro- 
ceeding with one at all. But I felt that I 
could not decline the task, after having mate- 
rials sent to me so kindly and liberally from 
all parts of the country ; and more especially 
as I feel convinced that stories and ill us- 



X Preface. 

trative anecdotes have been communicated 
quite equal to any that I have yet pub- 
lished, in real wit, and in characteristic rich 
Scottish humour. The reasons which made 
it desirable to preserve the former collection 
seemed equally cogent to justify the present 
publication. Whilst I take this opportunity 
of returning my grateful acknowledgments 
to all and each of the numerous correspon- 
dents who have written to me, and who have 
written so kindly, I have at the same time 
apologies to make to many for what I am 
afraid they may deem inattention, and a prone- 
ness to undervalue and to overlook their 
communications. Some of these I received 
at a time when I was much occupied, and 
when I was suffering under bodily and mental 
depression. Papers got into disorder, letters 
were lost or got separated from the materials 
they belonged to, and I have to confess 
a neglect of method, which has produced the 
usual painful consequences and the usual 



Preface. < xi 

unavailing regrets. The present volume is 
made up of Reminiscences partly personal 
and partly communicated. Had I published 
all those contributed I should have swelled 
the book to a size much beyond its present 
dimensions. It would not be easy to explain 
for all cases the principle of selection. I 
have very anxiously avoided being tedious, 
and have sought to submit to others only 
what seemed to myself to be at once pointed 
and characteristic. I make no doubt I have 
omitted many things which might have been 
safely adopted, but I preferred erring on the 
side of giving too liule to that of giving too 
mucb. 

It has been a pleasing result of this publi- 
cation that it has awakened Scottish feelings 
and memories from countrymen long separated 
from the land of their birth. I have within 
the last few weeks received communications 
from different portions of the globe, from 
Dartford, Connecticut, United States ; from 



xii Preface. 

Melbourne, Australia ; from the shores of the 
Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia ; from Oporon, 
near Hutno, in Poland, to express how many 
home associations have been awakened by 
these old stories. 

It may also interest some of my Scottish 
readers to know that Scotland has sufficient In- 
terest in the New World to call for a republica- 
tion of the whole volume into the pages of an 
American newspaper ; and that a beautiful 
American edition of the ^*^ Scottish Reminis- 
cences" has been printed at Boston, United 
States. When I heard that a well-known 
firm of that city had resolved to republish 
the work, I sent, through my kind friends 
Messrs. Edmonston and Douglas, a brief 
introduction of the work to our Transatlantic 
brethren. The following preface was in con- 
sequence prefixed to the American edition : — 

" The respected firm of Ticknor and 
Fields having arranged to bring out an Ameri- 
can edition of my ^ Reminiscences of Scottish 



Preface. xiii 

Life and Character/ I may perhaps^ without 
intrusion, be allowed to prefix a few words to 
express the deep and sincere gratification which 
this proposed republication has afforded me. 
The mere probability of there being a demand 
for an American reprint of such a book is of 
itself a sufficient proof that Scotland, with its 
many humourous and characteristic associa- 
tions, still retains its hold upon the affections 
of many of our Transatlantic brethren. I 
rejoice to think that the ^ Land o' Cakes' is 
remembered with interest in the great Repub- 
lic ; and I have not words to express the satis- 
faction which I derived from the thought of 
contributing to the amusement of American 
citizens who feel kindly towards Scotland and 
Scottish Reminiscences. No doubt there 
must be many families and many individuals 
scattered throughout the Union, who, from 
ties of kindred or from their own recollec- 
tions, will feel their hearts glow with emotion 
when they hear old Scottish stories of the last 



XIV Preface. 

half century. In a distant land, and amidst 
very different scenes and habits of life, such 
persons will delight to be reminded or in- 
formed of quaint sayings and eccentric doings 
connected with the past humorists of Scotland 
in all ranks of society — with her original and 
strong-minded old ladies — her excellent and 
simple parish ministers — her amusing paro- 
chial half-daft idiots — her pawky lairds, and 
her old-fashioned and now obsolete domestic 
servants and retainers." 

The book has been kindly received and 
cordially welcomed by the American press. 

Since the former volume was published, 
the Autobiography of Dr. Carlyle has been 
given to the world, under the able and judi- 
cious editorship of my esteemed friend Mr. 
Hill Burton. It is certainly a remarkable 
work, and I notice it especially here as shew- 
ing how much of the character and habits of 
a period may be conveyed by the notices of 
an individual who has been a cotemporary 



Preface. xv 

with the events he describes^ and who journa- 
lises his impressions. Dr. Carlyle's Autobio- 
graphy seems to place before us a most vivid 
picture of Scottish life and manners. With- 
out being a regular history, it is a ^^ brief ab- 
stract and chronicle of the times." The pic- 
ture is a melancholy one. The period it 
embraces is from 1722 to 1770; and a less 
religious period — I mean in the life described 
and shared by Dr. C. himself— we can scarcely 
imagine : it is of the " earth earthy ; " and we 
rejoice to think that no clergyman holding 
his position, and conversant as he was with 
society, could now leave to posterity similar 
impressions of the period which followed upon 
that of Dr. Carlyle. 



AiNSLiE Place, Edinburgh, 
A^ril 1 861. 



Reminisceiices of 
Scottish Life and Characte^r 



INTRODUCTORY. 




R. CLASON, in his first communication, 
expressed a wish that something of the 
same kind should be done for England as 
had been done in the '' Reminiscences " for Scotland. 
This idea had not only occurred to myself, but I 
had so far acted upon it as to collect a few materials 
for its practical illustration. As a subject, therefore, 
closely allied to the former and the present volume, 
I would introduce here a few Reminiscences of 
English local and provincial life and character. I 
do not suppose for a moment that such English 
reminiscences can have the point and charm which be- 



xviii Introductory. 

long to our own national peculiarities ; still they may 
not be devoid of interest. All pictures taken from 
life of men and manners, whatever be the rank or 
position of the parties, are instructive. All changes 
in social life it may be important to study and record. 
First, then, I would take my reader to a country 
district in Yorkshire. I was at school in such a 
locality in very early life — that is, more than fifty 
years ago — and one circumstance I would notice re- 
garding my position there ; I believe at that period 
(the very beginning of the century) it was about the 
most retired village in England not of a mountainous 
district. No turnpike road went through the parish. 
It lay in the line of no thoroughfare. The only in- 
habitants of education were the clergyman — a man 
of great simplicity of character, who had never been 
at the university — and my great uncle, of above four 
score, and a recluse. The people were uneducated 
to an extent now unusual. Nearly all the letters 
of the village were written by my uncle's gardener, 
a Scotchman, who, having the degree of education 
usual with his countrymen of the profession, and 
who, being very good natured, had abundant occupa- 
tion for his evenings ; and being moreover a prudent 



Introductory . xix 

man and safe^ he became the depository of nine-tenths 
of the family secrets of the inhabitants. Being thus 
ignorant generally, and few of them ever having been 
twenty miles from the place, I may consider the 
parish fifty years behind the rest of the world when 
I went there, so that it now furnishes recollection of 
rural people, of manners and intelligence dating back 
a hundred years from the present time. It was 
indeed a very primitive race, and it is curious to 
recal the many indications afforded in that obscure 
village of unmitigated ignorance. With all this were 
found in full exercise, also, the more violent and 
vindictive passions of our nature. They might have 
the simplicity, but not the virtues of Arcadia. We 
read much in sentimental tales of the innocence of 
country life, of the native worth and kindly feel- 
ings of unsophisticated rural society, and of the happy 
contrast in these respects of village life with the habits 
of those who dwell in the crowded population of cities. 
My early recollections of village life do not bear out 
these representations. No doubt there were many 
excellent characters — honest, hard-working, good 
people ; but we were often conversant with scenes 
of terrible violence, and of frequent drunkenness. 



XX Introductory. 

Nothing can be more appalling, more loathsome, than 
the reminiscences which recal,from a past of nearly sixty 
years, the horrible language, the profane and impure 
epithets, which occasionally marked the fierce quarrels 
of our village disputants. One indication of the primi- 
tive simplicity and credulity of these villagers was fully 
developed. There was a most unshaken belief in 
the existence of witchcraft and the power of witches, 
and one individual in particular was marked as having 
the power of injuring cattle, and blighting children, 
and doing many mischievous acts. I can now recal 
the care with which, in passing this miserable old 
creature, we schoolboys used to put our thumb be- 
tween the first and second finger, pointing it down- 
wards, as the infallible protection against her evil influ- 
ences. I do not think this individual so suspected was 
very anxious to repel the impeachment. I recollect 
an old neighbour telling me that on coming from 
market she had insinuated the charge against her of 
having '' bad books," and that she did not positively 
disown it. It gave her a sort of importance, and 
made her an object of some fear and awe in the 
village. Perhaps this may have been not an uncom- 
mon feeling in times past, so that a wretched pride 



Introductory. xxi 

in the poor creatures accused of witchcraft may often 
have led them to favour the delusion under which 
their neighbours judged them. There is an inherent 
love of power in the human mind, and under that 
fallacy an old woman in a village may rejoice in the 
importance of being thought a witch. 

There were some old English customs of an in- 
teresting nature which lingered in the parish, ^or 
example, the old habit of bowing to the altar was 
retained by the rustics on entering church, bowing 
respectfully to the clergyman in his place A copy 
of the Scriptures was in the vestry chained to the 
desk on which it lay, and where it had evidently 
been since this mode of introducing the Bible was 
practised in time of Edward VI. The passing 
bell was always sounded on notice of the death 
of a parishioner, and sounded at any hour, night or 
day, immediately on the event happening. One 
striking custom prevailed at funerals. The coffin 
was borne through the village to the churchyard by 
six or eight bearers of the same age and sex of the 
deceased. Thus, young maidens in white carried 
the remains of the girl with whom they had so lately 
sported. Boys took their playfellow and school- 



xxii Introductory . 

companion to the churchyard. The young married 
woman was borne by matrons — the men of middle- 
age did the same office for their cotemporary cut off 
in the pride of manhood — and though the aged women 
did not share in this arrangement, yet the old man 
was carried to the grave by men whose white locks 
and feeble steps shewed that they would soon follow 
their friend and brother. The eiffect ofthese proces- 
sions on a fine summer evening was very striking, 
especially when, as was often the case, it was preceded 
by old men, who, bare-headed and with tremulous 
voices, chanted, as they walked towards the little 
church, a portion of the ninetieth Psalm, in the quaint 
old version of Sternhold and Hopkins : — 

" Thou, Lord, hast been our sure defence. 

Our place of ease and rest, 
In all time past, yea, so long since. 

As cannot be exprest. 
Before was made mountain or hill, 

The earth and world abroad, 
From age to age, and always still, 

For ever thou art God. 



" The lasting of a thousand years, 
What is it in thy sight ; 



Introductory. xxiii 

As yesterday it doth appear, 

Or as a watch by night. 
As soon as thou dost scatter them, 

Then is their Ufe and trade 
E'en as a sleep, or like the grass, 

Whose beauty soon doth fade.'^ 

The worship of the little church was, as may be 
supposed, extremely simple, and yet, even there, in- 
novation and refinement had appeared in the musical 
department. The old men who used to execute the 
psalmody, with the clerk at their head, had been 
superseded — a teacher of singing had been engaged, 
and a choir, consisting of maidens, boys, and men, 
executed various sacred pieces with the assistance of 
a bassoon and violin. I recollect, in the church, a 
practice which would have shocked the strict rubri- 
cians of the present day. Whenever banns of mar- 
riage were proclaimed, immediately after the words 
*'this is the first, second, or third time of asking," 
the old clerk shouted out, "God speed them weel." 

In nothing was the primitive and simple character 
of the people of this district more remarkable than in 
the social position of the clergy amongst them. The 
livings were all small, so that there was no temptation 
for ecclesiastics of birth and high position in society 



xxiv Introductory . 

to come to the locality. The clergy were in many 
cases clergy only on Sundays, and for Sunday duty. 
The rest of the week they were like their people. 
Engaged in agriculture or horse-breeding, they lived 
with their servants, and were scarcely raised above the 
position of farmers. To show the primitive manners 
of many clergymen, I may mention the case of an 
usher in my school, who was also curate. He en- 
joyed the euphonious name of Caleb Longbottom. I 
recollect his dialect — pure Yorkshire •, his coat, a 
black one only on Sunday, as I suppose he was on 
week days wearing out his old blue coat which he 
had before going into orders. Lord Macaulay 
has been charged that, in describing the humble 
social condition of the clergy in the reign of Charles 
II., he has greatly exaggerated their want of refine- 
ment and knowledge of the world. But really, from 
recollection of my friend Mr. Longbottom and 
others at the time I speak of in the reign of George 
III., I cannot think he has overdrawn the picture. 
Suppose this incident at a table in our own time : — 
My uncle lived in what is called in Yorkshire the 
Hall ; and being principal proprietor in the parish, he 
was, in fact, the squire or great man. The clergy 



Introductory , xxv 

always dined at the hall after evening service, and I 
recollect the first day the new curate dined. The 
awkwardness and shyness of the poor man was strik- 
ing, even to the eyes of a thoughtless school-boy. 
He summoned courage to call for beer, and, accord- 
ing to the old custom, deemed it necessary to drink 
the health of all present before he put the glass to his 
lips. He addressed first the old gentleman, then the 
vicar, then myself, and finally, with equal solemnity 
drank to the servants in attendance — the old butler and 
the coachman, who were waiting upon the company. 
To persons whose ears have been long used to 
the language and pronunciation of the northern parts 
of the island, — and to those also associated only with 
its southern modes of speaking,— nothing seems more 
strange, as connected with the locality I am now 
describing, than the dialect of its inhabitants. To 
the initiated, Yorkshire is often very expressive — 
very humourous, and even pathetic ; but to those 
unaccustomed to its words and inflections, it must 
be as a dead language. From my residing in 
this retired spot so long, and at a period of life 
when impressions are strong, I had become quite 
familiarized with the dialect. In fact, we all spoke 



XXVI Introductory . 

Yorkshire, and I believe I have never quite lost the 
tone of it in some words. The dialects of England 
are a curious subject for observation. They differ 
in various localities more than most people are at 
all aware of, and the shades of difference are often 
very nice and delicate. I do not, of course, now 
pretend to give anything like an account of the 
general question. But, in a few examples, I would 
notice tnvo dialects which I have known best, viz., 
Yorkshire and Somerset. The Yorkshire is very 
broad, and rich, and racy — quite distinguishable 
from the Durham and Northumberland of one 
side, from the Lancashire of another, and the Mid- 
land Counties of another. Now, here is a speci- 
men of language such as for many early years of 
my life I was quite familiar : — *' I say. Bill, wharst 
thee boun ? Cum up, — mak sharp, honey, or I'll 
pull thee lugs, I will. Cum doun t'cam sold, and 
tak huom some bumblekoits, or I'll skin thee wick."^ 
I was much amused by meeting with dialect in 
Yorkshire after I had left school, in company with 

I " I say, Bill, where are you going ? Come up, be 
quick dear, or I will pull your ears, I will. Come down the 
bank, and take home some blackberries, or I'll skin ye 
ali'veP 



Introductory. xxvii 

some natives of the south, who were surprised at the 
native language, and at my familiarity with it. When 
at Cambridge, for example, I joined a reading party 
for the long vacation, and we went with our tutor to 
Redcar, on the Yorkshire coast, then a very retired 
spot. The first evening we went out for a walk 
and to see the place. There was a man of Norfolk, 
a man of Cornwall, a man of Kent, and myself. On 
coming to the end of a long lane, we met a farmer in 
a state of excitement, evidently in search of something. 
His address was : — ^^ I say, as ye coom'd, did ee see 
out ont mear, doon't lonen V^ My companions could 
not have been more abroad if they had been addressed 
in Turkish. But, to their surprise, I answered the 
farmer — ^' Yes, we passed it about half way down the 
lane." The man meant to put this question : — ** Did 
you see, as you came, anything of a mare in the 
lane ? " There is something very strange in such dialect 
to persons unaccustomed to it, and the contrasts made 
by it, with other circumstances, odd and unexpected, 
and sometimes ludicrous. An unusual dialect will 
often break a tender or a beautiful association. 
I recollect a friend of mine feeling the force of this 
contrast on the occasion of his being at an evening 



xxviii Introductory . 

party at Manchester. A young lady was pointed out 
to him who was considered the belle of the society. 
She was a very delicate and beautiful girl, and was 
also considered one of the finest singers in the place. 
When, therefore, my friend saw one so lovely and so 
accomplished led to the pianoforte, he formed the 
highest estimate of the gratification he should receive. 
This feeling, however, could hardly fail of being a 
* little counteracted by the young lady's accent, and 
when she began in the broadest Yorkshire tongue to 
sing, '^ Old be a booter floi," etc. I experienced 
something of the same feeling. When a very young 
man I was at Liverpool, and was taken to hear the 
singing at the Blind Asylum. It was very striking. 
They were practising an anthem with a new organ, 
lately erected, and the whole effect, arising from the 
beauty of the music and the infirmity of the performers, 
was most touching, and I was moved to tears. On 
leaving Liverpool next morning, I found myself sitting 
on the top of the coach, next to a tall blind girl 
whose notes had mainly produced the emotion I had 
experienced. I addressed her, and said I had heard 
the music at her asylum the night before, and added, 
'' Your new organ seems a fine one." The senti- 



Introductory . xxix 

ment of the whole matter received a little shock by 
her answer : — '' Ees it be ; but she han't gotten 
in 't troompet poips." In Somerset the Saxon forms 
of speech still linger, and we are reminded of Chaucer 
when we hear them say, *' He do clothy;" **she 
do cooky ;" '' he do jeery me.'^ ** He is a clothier;" 
'' she cooks ;" ** he mocks me." I recollect asking 
an old man who was complaining of his fare, why he 
did not eat his loaf which was on the table. '^ I 
can 't eatun, zur ; it be soa vinnyr I discovered 
that he meant ''mouldy;" and I found from Rask, 
*'vinny" to be a pure Anglo-Saxon word. I be- 
lieve it to be a word confined to a particular part 
of Somersetshire. Amongst the lower orders even, 
dialects are becoming softened down ; and in the 
upper classes, the joint influence of southern schools 
and teachers, and of greater facilities of travelling, 
are tending fast towards obliterating such peculiarities 
entirely. 

It is curious to have noticed*umongst the English 
common people the early effects of the educational 
system which has now taken deeper root amongst 
them. I have known persons who had been at 
school retaining a recollection of words that they had 



XXX Introductory. 

learned, and that, oftentimes, without the slightest 
apprehension of any meaning attached to them, or, at 
any rate, of any right meaning. There seemed to be 
just a jingle of words upon the memory, shewing 
how often mankind, in learning, without due attention 
being paid to their real mental condition, learn words 
to which very little proportion of idea is attached. 
As an example, I recollect a young man, a stage- 
coachman, who seemed to set up as rather a wag. 
He had been to school and to church, and he shewed 
on several occasions a tendency to quote from what 
he remembered to have heard, without much reference 
to any meaning attached to it. A young woman, 
sitting on the box with him, to whom he was desirous 
of making himself agreeable, asked him, '* Do you 
drive into Sheffield every day, Mr. Davis ?" to which 
he answered, '' Yes, my dear, day by day continually 
do cry," a senseless application of words of the Te 
Deum which adhered to his memory. Another 
favourite story of the late Bishop of London illus- 
trates the same use of mere words : — An old woman, 
who lived quite alone and was very helpless, had 
adopted a little girl from the workhouse, and brought 
her up till she was about sixteen, when she had become 



Introductory . xxxi 

a useful helpmate for her in her household concerns, 
and was to her as a daughter. The child, however, 
was persuaded to leave the old woman, and was en- 
ticed away to be servant in a farm-house. Some of 
the neighbours condoling with her, and expressing 
indignation at the ungrateful conduct of the girl, the 
poor old woman meekly observed that such things 
were only to be expected, as we were told in Scrip- 
ture they nvould happen. She then quoted scriptural 
authority to that effect, adding, *'' You know it is 
said, ' Train up a child, and away he do go,'" which 
was, in fact, the good woman's reading of the well- 
known passage, ** Train up a child in the way he 
should go," etc. Another instance of a similar use 
of the mere words, without regard to any considera- 
tion of the meaning, occurred in the case of a rustic 
parishioner extremely anxious to fulfil his duties as a 
sponsor to a neighbour's child. The clergyman had 
laboured hard to get his people to attend to this 
matter, and audibly and distinctly to make the re- 
sponses required by the baptismal service. On the 
occasion I refer to, this godfather was determined to 
undertake his responsibilities in a bold and manly tone. 
Not knowing, however, the meaning of the terms 



xxxii Introductory. 

used by the clergyman, he thought only of the words 
which he had himself to pronounce. The first 
question asked regards the renunciation of the great 
spiritual enemies of the faith, to which the answer is, *'I 
renounce them all." But, not knowing that the first 
question had already been asked and answered, and was 
passed away, when the clergyman came to the second 
question, which demands if the sponsor believes in 
the Trinity, and, in short, in all the articles of the 
Christian faith, the honest fellow, supposing that this 
was xhejirst question, and therefore, as if reckless of 
all creeds and councils — as if scorning all decisions 
of Catholic antiquity and fathers, he shouted trium- 
phantly, ^' I renounce them all V 

The small farmers of the west of England 
whom I remember, were a curious race. They were 
far behind the present enlightened and improved class 
of tenants. They were very illiterate — often very 
stupid in regard to general intelligence. But were, 
nevertheless, sharp enough in matters that concerned 
their own interest, and had that acuteness or mother 
ivit which is often found in the illiterate. A Somer- 
set clergyman, a friend of mine, who knew the cha- 
racter of the people well, used to say of this class, 



Introductory . xxxiii 

the old-fashioned farmers, in regard to their doing 
their landlords or the parson, — *' We have heard 
much of witchcraft, and priestcraft, and other crafts, 
but commend me to native, genuine, unsophisticated 
r/^w/7-craft." They were especially averse to change 
in any of their modes and habits, and when new pro- 
cesses and new inventions were recommended, the 
invariable answer was, ^^ Why, zur, it be our way/' 
And if urged to alter old ways and adopt new ones, 
as being better, all that could be got from them was, 
** I be noa scholard," or " Feather and grandfeather did 
it afore." And their fixity of tenure was a remarkable 
feature of their history. I have heard of farmers 
whose families had been tenants on their farms from 
father to son, and without leases, from the reign of 
Henry VII. Their idol was money ; and when they 
got money, they were essentially purse-froud. I 
knew a man who, as a farmer and maltster, had 
amassed (for him) a good fortune, and who could 
nevertheless hardly read or write. When he got 
into quarrels with his neighbours, he used to slap his 
pocket, and warn his opponent, " You'd better not 
meddle wi' me, I be pretty respectablish hereJ^ 
Riding home from market one day very tipsy, he fell 

b 



xxxiv Introductory. 

from his horse, and lay helpless in the ditch. There 
he was overheard saying, ^' Here lies ten thousand 
pound!" But as if he had not done himself justice, 
and on second thoughts and further consideration, he 
added, ^' Why not say elev'n ?" 

In Somersetshire I had an opportunity of observ- 
ing the lingering remnant of a very interesting class 
of religious characters — I mean the Primitive Metho- 
dists — persons who had been actually followers of 
John Wesley, and who did not go beyond his rules 
and directions. The race which succeeded them 
were of a different type of character. Less simple 
in their religious faith — more anxious to make an 
important sect — and really hostile to the church, 
which Wesley and his immediate followers never were. 
There lived in the parish of which I was curate, an 
old lady, widow of a farmer, whose farm she carried 
on in conjunction with her son, Mr. Sperring. She 
was a pure Methodist, and had in early life been a fre- 
quent hearer of Mr. Wesley himself, and used to repeat 
portions of his sermons which she had remembered. 
I recollect her saying John Wesley never preached 
longer than twenty minutes. She was a remarkable 
person this old lady, and I have often regretted not 



Introductory. xxxv 

having taken pains to record her sayings. These 
had much affinity with the sayings of our old Scottish 
Presbyterian peasantry, and derived a character and 
strength from the frequent use of Scripture metaphor 
and language. The complacent belief expressed by 
persons of this class of their own superiority in reli- 
^ous matters was very remarkable. Mrs. Sperring 
was just as confident that she had experienced the 
change of saving conversion at a particular hour and 
day, which she remembered, as she was of her own 
existence. That being, as is well known, a leading 
doctrine of the Methodists. I recollect her telling me 
that hers occurred in an orchard during a thunder- 
storm. She had been gathering apples, and at two 
o'clock in the afternoon, she felt, as she expressed it, 
that she had '^passed from the spirit of bondage to fear, 
into the glorious liberty of a chUd of God." And 
from this persuasion she never deviated, and she lived 
to be eighty-four. The way she spoke of the religious 
opinions and acquirements of her neighbours who 
were not Methodists was very amusing. She used 
to say of some persons that they were gospel-har- 
dened ; of others, that they were devil-hardened. 
And of clergymen's religious gifts and attainments 



XXXV i Introductory. 

she would speak in the coolest manner possible. 
Men of learning and high position in the country she 
would speak of with pity, as not knowing the gospel, 
and on my pointing to a certain bishop, and saying 
that he certainly preached the gospel, her quiet reply 
was, '' Well, he do preach the gospel as far as he do 
hnoivr There was considerable humour in her de- 
scriptions, too — as when she gave me an account of 
the preaching of Archdeacon Thomas, a very learned 
high church dignitary, who had been rector of a 
parish in the lower part of Somersetshire in which she 
had been a farmer's wife. The archdeacon and the 
Dissenters of his parish had not been on good terms, 
and he expressed to some of the farmers great indig- 
nation at their deserting the church-service, and going 
to listen to the discourse of ignorant and uneducated 
preachers of the Methodist persuasion. They gave 
as their reason of preference, that Church clergymen 
preached from book, but that the Methodists preached 
without a book. '' Oh," said the archdeacon, ^*if 
that is all, if you come to church next Sunday, / will 
preach to you without a book. So when the Sunday 
came, the church was full, and all eyes and ears were 
attent upon the learned archdeacon, when he mounted 



Introductory. xxxvii 

the pulpit to preach without any written paper. 
According to her description, he began with a de- 
scription of the ancient people of Israel, and having 
got them into captivity in Babylon, he was obliged to 
leave them there, and closed his discourse by saying 
that there were some matters connected with the 
Jewish people which surpassed his knowledge ; and 
so he left them, and preached no more without 
his M.S. On my remonstrating against such a de- 
scription of Archdeacon Thomas, who was really a 
great scholar and a learned divine, all she replied 
was, '^ I don't know ! but certainly what I heard 
was neither law nor gospel, spirit nor letter, for it 
was nothing at all." Still more amusing was her 
own account of a conversation she had with her farm 
servant, of whose abilities and attainments as a divine 
she had a very low opinion, but who, she heard, had 
become what was called a local preacher amongst the 
Methodists. So she attacked him : — ^' Well, John, 
hast thee become preacher ? Thee 'It never sound 
the trumpet in Zion. Thee '11 never be anything but 
a rams-horn preacher." However, John's answer 
was not bad : — '^ Well, Missus, I may be a ram's- 






xxxviii Introductory . 

horn preacher, but it was the rams' horns that brought 
down the walls of Jericho ! '' 

These reminiscences of English provincial life 
and character are but a few specimens of what has 
occurred to myself in a very limited sphere of obser- 
vation. I am fully persuaded that many interesting 
characteristics of men and manners might be pre- 
served, if those who have had more extended and 
more important fields of knowledge were to record 
the peculiarities and most striking incidents of social 
life as it passed before them. Individuals and locali- 
ties possess their own characteristic features. Classes 
of men are marked out by peculiarities which must 
always be curious and interesting subjects for obser- 
vation. Many important objects may be gained by 
such knowledge of mankind beyond that of mere 
curiosity ; for, in all questions connected with the 
office of the Christian minister, with the spread of 
popular education, and, in fact, with all social and 
moral improvement, it must be of the greatest im- 
portance to have an accurate acquaintance with the 
habits and mental peculiarities of those who are to 
be dealt with in such matters. 



CHAPTER I. 

On Religious Feelings and Religious 
Observances. 




COMMENCE this supplemental volume 
with the subject that formed the first 
division of the original work^ viz., 
^^ Changes in Religious Feelings and Religious 
Observances." In the Reminiscences I have noticed 
many such changes which have taken place in Scot- 
land. It could hardly be otherwise, when we con- 
sider the increased facilities of communication between 
the two countries, a facility which extends to the 
introduction of English books upon religious subjects. 
The most popular and engaging works connected 
with the Church of England have now a free cir- 
culation in Scotland, and it is impossible that such 
productions as the ^' Christian Year," for example, 
and many others — whether for good or bad is not 
now the question — should not produce their effects 

B 



2 Reminiscences of 

upon minds trained in the strictest school of Cal- 
vinistic theology. I should be disposed to extend 
the boundaries of this division, and to include under 
" Religious Feelings and Religious Observances " 
many anecdotes which belong perhaps rather in- 
directly than directly to the subject. Thus it has 
struck me that on a subject closely allied with reli- 
gious feelings a great change has taken place in 
Scotland during a period of less than fifty years — I 
mean the attention paid to cemeteries as depositories 
of the mortal remains of those who have departed. 
In my early days I never recollect seeing any efforts 
made for the embellishment and adornment of our 
churchyards ; if tolerably secured by fences, enough 
had been done. The English and Welsh practices 
of planting flowers, keeping the turf smooth and 
dressed over the graves of friends, were quite 
unknown. Indeed, I suspect such attention fifty 
years ago would have been thought by the sterner 
Presbyterians as somewhat savouring of superstition. , 
The account given by Sir W. Scott, in ^^ Guy Man-- 
nering," of an Edinburgh burial-place was universally 
applicable to Scottish sepulchres.^ A very different 

I " This was a square enclosure In the Greyfrlars' Church- 
yard, guarded on one side by a veteran angel without a nose, 
and having only one wing, who had the merit of havings 
maintained his post for a century, while his comrade cherub, , 



Scottish Life £5? Character. 3 

state of matters has grown up within the last few 
years. Cemeteries and churchyards are now as 
carefully ornamented in Scotland as in England. 
Shrubs, flowers, smooth turf, and neatly kept gravel 
walks, are a pleasing accompaniment to head-stones, 
crosses, and varied forms of monumental memorials^ 
in freestone, marble, and granite. Nay, more than 
these, not unfrequently we see an imitation of 
French sentiment, in wreaths of ^' everlasting" placed 
over graves as emblems of immortality ; and in one 
of our Edinburgh cemeteries, I have seen these 
enclosed in glass cases, to preserve them from the 
effects of wind and rain. 

In consequence of neglect, the unprotected state 
of churchyards was evident from the number of 
stories in circulation connected with the circumstance 
of timid and excited passengers going amongst the 
tombs of the village. The following, amongst 
others, has been communicated. The locale of the 
story is unknown, but it is told of a weaver who, 
after enjoying his potations, pursued his way home 
through the churchyard, his vision and walking 
somewhat impaired. As he proceeded, he diverged 

who had stood sentinel on the corresponding pedestal, lay a 
broken trunk, among the hemlock, burdock, and nettles 
which grew in gigantic luxuriance around the walls of the 
mausoleum." 



4 Reminiscences of 

from the path, and unexpectedly stumbled into a 
partially made grave. Stunned for a while^ he lay 
in wonder at his descent, and after some time he got 
out^ but he had not proceeded much farther when a 
similar calamity befell him. At this second fall^ he 
was heard^ in a tone of wonder and surprise, to 
utter the following exclamation, referring to what 
he considered the untenanted graves, " Ay ! I'r ye 
a' up an awa' ? " In the same class of mortuary 
reminiscences, we may place the novelty lately intro- 
duced amongst us of having stained-glass windows 
in churches, as memorials of the departed.^ 

In connection with the awful subject of death 
and all its concomitants, it has been often remarked, 
that the older generation of Scottish people used 
to view the circumstances belonging to the decease 
of their nearest and dearest friends^ with a cool- 
ness which does not at first sight seem consistent 
with their deep and sincere religious impressions. 
Amongst the peasantry, this was sometimes mani- 
fested in an extraordinary and startling manner. 
I do not believe that those persons had less affection 
for their friends, than a corresponding class in Eng- 

I Distinguished examples of these are to be found in the 
New Greyfriars' Church, Edinburgh, and in the Cathedral of 
Glasgow 5 to say nothing of the beautiful specimens in St. 
John's Episcopal Chapel, Edinburgh. 



Scottish Life ^ Character. 5 

land, but they had less awe of the concomitants of 
death, and approached them with more familiarity. 
For example, I remember long ago at Fasque^ my 
sister-in-law visiting a worthy and attached old 
couple, of whom the husband, Charles Duncan, who 
had been gardener at Fasque for above thirty years, 
was evidently dying. He was sitting on a common 
deal chair, and on my sister proposing to send down 
for his use an old arm chair, which she recollected 
was laid up in a garret — his wife, exclaimed 
against such a needless trouble. *' Hout, my lady, 
what would he be duin' wi' an arm chair ; he's 
just deeing fast awa ?'' I have two anecdotes, 
illustrative of the same state of feeling, from a lady 
of ancient Scottish family, accustomed to visit her 
poor dependants on the property, and to notice their 
ways. She was calling at a decent cottage, and 
found the occupant busy carefully ironing out some 
linens — the lady remarked, '' Those are fine linens 
you have got there, Janet." '^ Troth mem," was 
the reply, ''they're just the gudeman's deed claes, 
and there are nane better i' the parish." On another 
occasion, when visiting an excellent woman, to con- 
dole with her on the death of her nephew, with 
whom she had lived, and whose loss must have been 
severely felt by her ; she remarked, '' What a nice 
white cap you have got, Margaret." '' Indeed mem. 



6 Reminiscences of 

ay, sae it is ; for ye see the gude lad's winding-sheet 
was ower lang, and I cut afF as muckle as made 
twa bonny mutches" (caps). 

Under the present head there is a subject con- 
nected with the expression of rehgious opinion^ on 
which I must think a great change has taken place 
within the last fifty years — I refer to the quaint, and 
frequently irreverent^ manner in which sacred sub- 
jects were referred to by the older Scottish race, 
— they did not mean to be irreverent or profane^ but 
no doubt they appeared so to a more refined but 
not really a more religious generation. 

It seems to me that this plainness of speech 
arose in part from the sincerity of their belief in all 
the circumstances of another condition of being. 
They spoke of things hereafter as positive certain- 
ties, and viewed things invisible through the same 
medium as they viewed things present. I have 
alluded to this matter in the anecdote related at p. 
76^ of Miss Johnston. The following is equally 
illustrative^ and I am assured of its perfect authen- 
ticity and literal correctness : ^' Joe M'Pherson and 
his wife lived in Inverness. They had two sons, who 
helped their father in his trade of a smith. They 
were industrious and careful^ but not successful. 
The old man had bought a house^ leaving a large 
part of the price unpaid. It was the ambition of 



Scottish Life Cf? Character. 7 

his life to pay off that debt, but it was too much 
for him, and he died in the struggle. His sons 
kept on the business with the old industry, and 
with better fortune. At last their old mother fell 
sick, and told her sons she was dying, as in 
truth she was. The elder son said to her, 
' mother, you'll soon be with my father ; no doubt 
you'll have much to tell him \ but dinna forget this, 
mother, mind ye, tell him the house is freed. He'll 
be glad to hear that.'" 

A similar feeling is manifest in the following 
conversation, which, I am assured, is authentic : At 
Hawick, the people used to w.ear wooden clogs, 
which make a clanking noise on the pavement. A 
dying old woman had some friends by her bed-side, 
who said to her, '^ weel Jenny, ye are gaun to 
Heeven, an' gin you should see our folk, ye can tell 
them that weVe a' weel." To which Jenny replied, 
'•' weel, gin I shud see them I'se tell them, but you 
manna expect that I am to gang clank clanking 
through Heeven looking for your folk." 

But of all stories of this class, I think the fol- 
lowing death-bed conversation between a Scottish 
husband and wife, is about the richest specimen 
of a dry Scottish matter of fact view, of a very 
serious question. An old shoemaker in Glasgow 
was sitting by the bedside of his wife, who was 



8 Reminiscences of 

dying. She took him by the hand. " Weel 
John^ we're gawin to part. I hae been a gude 
wife to you^ John.'' ^^Oh just middlings just 
middling, Jenny/' said John, not disposed to commit 
himself. ^' John," says she^ '' ye maun promise to 
bury me in the auld kirk-yard at Stra'von^ beside 
my mither. I couldna rest in peace among unco 
folk^ in the dirt and smoke o' Glasgow." '^ Weel 
weel, Jenny, my woman," said John soothingly, 
^^ We'll just pit you in the Gorhdlsjirst^ and gin ye 
dinna lie quiet, we'll try you sine in Stra'von." 

There was something very striking in the homely, 
quaint, and severe expressions on religious subjects 
which marked the old-fashioned piety of persons 
shadowed forth in Sir Walter Scott's Davie Deans. 
I have already referred in the Reminiscences, p. 14, 
to the shepherd of Bonaly, and his rebuke of Lord 
Rutherfurd's remark about the east wind, but an 
admirable addition to that scene was the shepherd's 
answer to Lord Cockburn, the proprietor of Bonaly. 
He was sitting on the hill-side with the shepherd, and 
observing the sheep reposing in the coldest situation, 
he observed to him, " John, if I were a sheep, I would 
lie on the other side of the hill.'' The shepherd 
answered, '^ ay, my lord, but if ye had been a 
sheep ye would hae had mair sense." 

The sort of unimaginative and matter-of-fact view 



Scottish Life i^ Character. 9 

of things connected with the other world extended 
to a very youthful age, as in the case of the little 
boy who, when told of Heaven, put the question, 
*' an' will Faather be there?" His instructress 
answered, '^ of course, she hoped he would be 
there;" to which he sturdily at once replied, ^^ then 
I'll no gang." 

We might apply these remarks in some measure 
to the Scottish pulpit ministrations of an older 
school, in which a minuteness of detail and a quaint- 
ness of expression were quite common^ but which 
could not now be tolerated. I have two spe- 
cimens of such antiquated language, supplied by 
correspondents, and I am assured they are both 
genuine. 

The first is given on the authority of a St. 
Andrews Professor^ who is stated to be a great 
authority in such narratives. 

• In one of our northern counties, a rural district 
had its harvest operations seriously affected by con- 
tinuous rains. The crops being much laid, wind 
was desired in order to restore them to a condition 
fit for the sickle. A minister, in his Sabbath ser- 
vices, expressed their wants in prayer as follows : — 
^^ O Lord, we pray thee to send us wind, no a 
rantin', tantin'^ tearin' wind, but a noohin' (noughin ?) 
soughin', winnin' wind." More expressive words 



lo Reminiscences of 

than these could not be found In any language^ and 
it is believed the story has not been published. 

The other story relates to a portion of the 
Presbyterian service on sacramental occasions, called 
'' fencing the tables/' i. e.^ prohibiting the approach 
of those who were unworthy to receive. 

This fencing of the tables was performed in the 
following effective manner by an old divine^ whose 
flock transgressed the third commandment^ not in a 
gross and loose manner, but in its minor details : 
'^ I debar all those who use such minced oaths as 
faith! troth! losh ! gosh! and lovanenty ! " 

There was a system connected with Scottish 
church discipline which has undergone a great 
change in my time^ I mean the public censure from 
the pulpit, in the time of divine service of offenders, 
previously convicted before the minister and his kirk 
session. This was performed by the guilty person 
standing up before the congregation on a raised 
platform, called the cutty stooly and receiving a rebuke. 
I never saw it done, but have heard in my part of 
the country of the discipline being enforced occa- 
sionally. Indeed, I recollect an instance where the 
rebuke was thus administered, and received under 
circumstances that made the scene very striking, and 
to partake of the moral sublime. The daughter of 
the minister had herself committed such an offence 



Scottish Life & Character. 1 1 

against moral purity, as usually called forth this 
church censure. The minister peremptorily refused 
to make her an exception to his ordinary practice. 
His child stood up in the congregation, and received, 
from her agonized father^ a rebuke similar to that 
administered to other members of his congregation 
for a like offence. The spirit of the age was 
unfavourable to the practice. The rebuke on the 
cutty stool^ like the penance in a white sheet in 
England^ went out of use, and the circumstance is 
now a matter of '^ reminiscence." I have received 
some communications on the subject, which bear 
upon this point ; and I subjoin the following 
remarks from a kind correspondent, a clergyman, 
to whom I am largely indebted^ as indicating the 
great change which has taken place in this matter. 

Church discipline, he writes, was much more 
vigorously enforced in olden time than it is now. 
A certain couple having been guilty of illicit inter- 
course^ within the forbidden degrees, appeared before 
the Presbytery of Lanark^ and made confession in 
sackcloth. They were ordered to return to their 
own session, and to stand^ according to the injunction 
of the session^ at the kirk-door, barefoot and bare- 
legged^ from the second bell to the last, and there- 
after in the public place of repentance ; and, at 
direction of the session^ thereafter to go through the 



1 2 Reminiscences of 

whole kirks of the presbytery, and to satisfy them in 
like manner. If such penance were now enforced 
for like offences, we believe the registration books 
of many parishes in Scotland would become more 
creditable in certain particulars than they unfortu- 
nately are at the present time. 

Mr. Small, a former minister of the parish of 
Stair, in Ayrshire, joined this discipline with much 
kindness to his parishioners. He was accustomed 
on stormy Sundays to take his congregation into a 
public house, contiguous to the church, and give 
them a short service over the back of a chair. At 
the conclusion he treated them to a few tankards of 
ale, and dismissed them in comfort to their several 
abodes. It is said, that he occasionally had broth 
provided for them by the alewife, which they 
received in addition to the ale. The repentance 
stool, nevertheless, was in use in his time, although 
it died out as in other places. A young farmer 
being cited to appear upon it on a certain Sun- 
day •, on the previous evening he called upon the 
beadle^ whom he bribed to open the church 
door^ and having seized the abominated stool, he 
broke it into a thousand pieces, which was easily 
done, as it was far decayed. On the following day 
it could not be found^ and it was never again 
replaced. 



Scottish Life ^ Character. 13 

But there was a less formidable ecclesiastical 
censure occasionally given by the minister from the 
pulpit, like those referred to at pp. 182 and 250^ in 
the Reminiscences, against sleeping in church, and 
other misdemeanours which took place under his 
own eye. A most amusing specimen of such cen- 
sure was one inflicted by the minister upon his own 
wife, for an offence not in our day visited with so 
heavy a penalty. The clergyman had observed one 
of his flock asleep during his sermon. He paused, 
and called him to order. '' Jeems Robson, ye are 
sleepin', I insist on your wauking when God's word 
is preached to ye." ^' Weel sir, ye may look at 
your ain seat, and ye'll see a sleeper forbye me," 
answered Jeems, pointing to the clergyman's lady in 
the minister's pew. " Then Jeems," said the minister, 
" when ye see my wife asleep again, hand up your 
hand." By and bye the arm was stretched out, and 
sure enough the fair lady was caught in the act. 
Her husband solemnly called upon her to stand 
up and receive the censure due to her oflence. He 
thus addressed her : — '' Mrs. B., a'body kens that 
when I got ye for my wife, I got nae beauty. Yer 
frien's ken that I got nae siller ; and if I dinna get 
God's grace, I shall hae a puir bargain indeed." 

There are many anecdotes which might be 
added to those already recorded, as shewing the 



14 Reminiscences of 

very strong feeling existing in the Scottish mind on 
Sabbath observance. But I do not know one 
which is more to the purpose than the following : — 
At a certain time, the hares in the neighbourhood of 
a Scottish burgh had, from the inclemency of the 
season or from some other cause, become emboldened 
more than usual to approach the dwelling-places of 
men ; so much so^ that on one Sunday morning a 
hare was seen skipping along the street as the 
people were going to church. An old man spying 
puss in this unusual position, significantly remarked, 
'^ Ay, yon beast kens weel it is the Sabbath-day;" 
taking it for granted that no one in the place would 
be found audacious enough to hurt the animal on a 
Sunday. 

Lady Macneil supplies an excellent pendant to 
Miss Stuart's story about the clock going on the 
Sunday (page 15). Her hen wife had got some 
Dorking fowls, and on Lady M. asking if they 
were laying many eggs^ she replied, with great 
earnestness^ ^' Indeed^ my leddy, they lay every 
day^ no' excepting the blessed Sabbath." 

There were, however, old persons at that time 
who were not quite so orthodox on the point of 
Sabbath observance, and of these a lady residing in 
Dumfries was known often to employ her wet 
Sundays in arranging her wardrobe. " Preserve 



Scottish Life ^ Character. 15 

us ! " she said on one occasion, '^ anither gude Sun- 
day ! I dinna ken whan I'll get thae drawers red 
up." 

On this point of changes in religious feelings I 
may notice that we had within the scope of these 
Reminiscences a character in Aberdeenshire, which 
has now gone out — I mean the popular and univer- 
sally well- received Roman Catholic priest. Reli- 
gious differences, and strong prejudices, seem at the 
present time to draw a more decided line of separation 
between the priest and his Protestant countrymen. 
As examples of what is past, I would refer to the 
case of a genial and Romish bishop in Ross-shire. 
It is well known that private stills were prevalent 
in the Highlands fifty or sixty years ago, and no one 
thought there was any harm in them. This good 
bishop, whose name I forget, was (as I heard the 
late W. Mackenzie of Muirton assure a party at 
Dunrobin Castle), several years previously a famous 
hand at brewing a good glass of whisky, and that 
he distributed his mountain dew with a liberal and 
impartial hand alike to Catholic and to Protestant 
friends. Of this class, I recollect, certainly forty- 
five years ago, priest Gordon, a genuine Aber- 
donian, and a man beloved by all, rich and poor. 
He was a sort of chaplain to Menzies of Pitfodels, 
and visited in all the country families round Aber- 



1 6 Reminiscences of 

deen. I remember once his being at Banchory 
Lodge, and thus apologising to my aunt for going 
out of the room : — ^' I beg your pardon, Mrs. 
Forbes^ for leaving you, but I man just gey doun 
to the garden and say mi bit wordies/' these '' bit 
wordies" being in fact the portion of the Breviary 
which he was bound to recite — so easily and plea- 
santly were those matters then referred to. 

The following^ however, is a still richer illustra- 
tion, and I am assured it is genuine ; — " Towards 
the end of the last century, a worthy Roman Catholic 
clergyman, well known as ^Priest Matheson,' and 
universally respected in the district, had charge of a 
mission in Aberdeenshire^ and for a long time made 
his journeys on a piebald pony, the priest and his 
^ Pyet Shelty ' sharing an affectionate recognition 
wherever they came. On one occasion, however^ 
he made his appearance on a steed of a different 
description^ and passing near a Seceding meeting- 
house^ he forgathered with the minister^ who, after 
the usual kindly greetings, missing the familiar pony 
said^ ' Ou Priest ! fat's come o' the auld Pyet ? ' 
' He's deid, minister.' ^ Weel, he was an auld 
faithfu' servant, and ye wad nae doot gie him the 
offices o' the Church ?' ^ Na, minister,' said his friend, 
not quite liking this allusion to his priestly offices^ 
' I didna dee that, for ye see he turned Seceder afore 



Scottish Life £s? Character. 17 

he deed J an I buried him like a beast,'' He then rode 
quietly away. This worthy man, however, could, 
when occasion required, rebuke with seriousness as 
well as point. Always a welcome guest at the 
houses of both clergy and gentry, he is said on one 
occasion to have met with a laird^ whose hospitality 
he had thought it proper to decline, and on being 
asked the reason for the interruption of his visits, 
answered, ^ Ye ken, an' I ken, but, laird ! God 
kens.'" 

I have already, at page 251 of Reminiscences, 
referred to a custom which I recollect was always 
practised in the church of Fettercairn during my 
boyish days, viz., that of the minister, Mr. Foote, 
bowing to the heritors in succession who occupied 
the front gallery seats, and I am assured that this 
bowing from the pulpit to the principal heritor or 
heritors after the blessing had been pronounced was 
very common in rural parishes till about forty years 
ago, and perhaps till a still later period. And when 
heritors chanced to be pretty equally matched, there 
was sometimes an unpleasant contest as to who was 
entitled to the precedence in having xhefrst bow. A 
case of this kind once occurred in the parish of 
Lanark, which was carried so far as to be laid before 
the Presbytery, but they not considering themselves 
'' competent judges of the points of honour and 

c 



1 8 Reminiscences of 

precedency among gentlemen, and, to prevent all 
inconveniency in these matters in the future, ap- 
pointed the minister to forbear bowing to gentlemen 
from the pulpit for the time to come ; and they also 
appointed four of their number ^' to wait upon the 
gentlemen to deal with them, for bringing them to 
condescend to submit hereunto, for the success of 
the gospel, and the peace of the parish." 

In connection with this subject, we may mention 
a ready and complimentary reply once made by the 
late Reverend Dr. Wightman of Kirkmahoe, on being 
rallied for his neglecting this usual act of courtesy 
one sabbath, in his own church. The heritor who 
was entitled to, and always received this token of 
respect, was P. Miller^ Esquire^ proprietor of Dal- 
s win ton. One sabbath the Dais win ton pew con- 
tained a bevy of ladies^ but no gentlemen, and the 
Doctor — perhaps because he was a bachelor and 
felt a delicacy in the circumstances — omitted the 
usual salaam in their direction. A few days after, 
meeting Miss Miller, w^ho was widely famed for 
her great beauty, and who afterwards became 
Countess of Mar, she rallied him, in presence of 
her companions, for not bowing to her from the 
pulpit on the previous Sunday, and requested an 
explanation, when the good Doctor immediately re- 
plied, — '^ I beg your pardon, Miss Miller, but you 



Scottish Life & Character. 19 

surely know that angel worship is not allowed in 
the Church of Scotland;" and lifting his hat, he 
made a low bow^ and passed on. 

Scottish congregations, in some parts of the 
country, contain an element in their composition 
quite unknown in English churches. In pastoral 
parts of the country, it is usual for each shepherd 
to bring his faithful collie-dog — at least it was so 
some years ago. In a district of Sutherland, where 
the population is very scanty, the congregations are 
made up one-half of dogs, each human member having 
his canine companion. These dogs sit out the Gaelic 
services and sermon with commendable patience, 
till towards the end of the last psalm, when there 
is a universal stretching and yawning, and they are 
all ready to scamper out, barking in a most excited 
manner whenever the blessing is commenced. The 
congregation of one of these churches determined 
that the service should close in a more decorous 
manner, and steps were taken to attain this object. 
Accordingly, when a stranger clergyman was 
officiating, he found the people all sitting when he 
was about to pronounce the blessing. He hesitated, 
and paused, expecting them to rise, till an old 
shepherd looking up to the pulpit, said, '' Say awa,' 
sir, we're 2! sitting to cheat the dowgs." 

I remember in the parish church of Fettercairn, 



20 Reminiscences of 

though it must be sixty years ago^ a custom — still 
lingering, I believe^ in some parts of the country — 
of the precentor reading each single line before it 
was sung by the congregation. This practice gave 
rise to a somewhat unlucky introduction of a line 
from the first psalm. In a church in the west of 
Scotland the communion tables are placed in the 
centre of the church. After sermon and prayer, 
the seats round these tables are occupied by the 
communicants while a psalm is being sung. One 
communion Sabbath, the precentor observed the 

noble family of approaching the tables^ and 

likely to be kept out by those pressing in before 
them. Being very zealous for their accommodation, 
he called out to an individual whom he considered 
the principal obstacle in clearing the passage, 
'^ Come back, Jock, and let in the noble family of 

," and then turning to his psalm-book^ took 

up his duty, and went on to read the line, '' Nor 
stand in sinners' way." 

The old Scottish hearers were very particular 
on the subject of their minister's preaching old 
sermons ; and to repeat a discourse which they 
could recollect was always made a subject of 
animadversion by those who heard it. A beadle 
who was a good deal of a wit in his way, gave a 
sly hit in his pretended defence of his minister on 



Scottish Life 6? Character. 21 

the question. As they were proceeding from 
church, the minister observed the beadle had been 
laughing as if he had triumphed over some of the 
parishioners with whom he had been in conversation. 
On asking the cause of this, he received for answer, 
*^ Indeed, sir, they were saying ye had preached an 
auld sermon to day, but I tackled them, for I tauld 
them it was no an auld sermon, for the minister 
had preached it no sax months syne." 

I remember the minister of Banchory, Mr. 
Gregory, availed himself of the feelings of his 
people on this subject for the purpose of accom- 
plishing a particular object. During the building of 
the new church, the service had to be performed in 
a schoolroom, which did not nearly hold the con- 
gregation. The object was to get part of the 
parish to attend in morning, and part in afternoon. 
Mr. Gregory prevented those who had attended in 
the morning from returning in the afternoon by just 
giving them, as he said, '^ cauld kail het again." 

It is somewhat remarkable, however, that, not- 
withstanding this feeling in the matter of a repetition 
of old sermons, there was amongst a large class of 
Scottish preachers of a former day such a sameness 
of subject as really sometimes made it difficult to dis- 
tinguish the discourse of one Sunday from amongst 
others. These were entirely doctrinal, and how- 



22 Reminiscences of 

ever they might commence, after the opening or 
introduction^ hearers were certain to find the 
preacher falling gradually into the old channel. 
The fall of man in Adam^ his restoration in Christ, 
justification by faith, and the terms of the new 
covenant formed the staple of each sermon, and 
without which it was not in fact reckoned complete 
as an orthodox exposition of Christian doctrine. 
Without omitting the essentials of Christian instruc- 
tion, preachers now take a wider view of illustrating 
and explaining the gospel scheme of salvation and 
regeneration, without constant recurrence to the 
elemental and fundamental principles of the faith. 
From my friend Dr. Cook of Haddington (who it is 
well known has a copious stock of old Scotch tra- 
ditionary anecdotes), I have an admirable illustration 
of this state of things as regards pulpit instruction. 

'^ Much of the preaching of the Scotch clergy," 
Dr. Cook observes, " in the last century was almost 
exclusively doctrinal. The fall — the nature, the 
extent, and the application of the remedy. In the 
hands of able men, no doubt, there might be much 
variety of exposition, but with weaker or indolent 
men, preaching extempore, or without notes, it too 
often ended in a weekly repetition of what had been 
already said. An old elder of mine, whose recol- 
lection might reach back from sixty to seventy 



Scottish Life ^ Character. 23 

years^ said to me one day^ ' Now-a-days^ people 
make a work if a minister preach the same sermon 
over again in the course of two or three years. 
When I was a boy, we would have wondered if 

old Mr. W had preached anything else than 

what we had heard the Sunday before.' My old 
friend used to tell of a clergyman who had held forth 
on the broken covenant till his people longed for a 
change. The elders waited on him to intimate their 
wish. They were examined on their knowledge of 
the subject, found deficient, rebuked, and dismissed, 
but after a little while they returned to the charge, 
and the minister gave in. Next Lord's day he read a 
large portion of the history of Joseph and his brethren, 
as the subject of a lecture. He paraphrased it 
greatly, no doubt, to the detriment of the original, 
but much to the satisfaction of his people, for it was 
something new. He finished the paraphrase, ' and 
now,' says he, ' my friends, we shall proceed to 
draw some lessons and inferences \ and ij-/, you will 
observe that the sacks of Joseph's brethren were 
ripit^ and in them was found the cup ; so your 
sacks will be ripit at the day of judgment, and the 
first thing found in them will be the broken cove- 
nant,' and having gained this advantage, the sermon 
went off into the usual strain, and embodied the 
usual heads of elementary dogmatic theology." 



24 Reminiscences of 

More importance seems to have been attached 
to funeral celebrations, than is done at present. To 
the kindness of Rev. Mr. Hogg of Kirkmahoe, I am 
indebted for examples of this, as well as for other 
interesting communications. There used to be a 
great competition among elders in praying at funerals 
in the absence of a clergyman. Those who had a 
great gift in this way, went far and wide to such 
solemnities, even when not invited, as they consider- 
ately said, their services might be required. At a 
funeral in the parish of Straiton, Ayrshire, one of 
these worthies was present, called John Stewart, and 
was called upon to officiate. As his great rival, 
David Stevenson^ from a neighbouring parish, was 
not there, and he saw he would have both to ask 
the blessing and give thanks, he reserved his great 
strength for the latter, when all his set phrases and 
pathetic sentiments were to come forth like a strong 
army, doing great execution. In fact the blessings 
even in his own estimation, was a so-and-so affair. 
It was to the thanks he looked forward with triumph. 
To his great chagrin, however, on opening his eyes 
after the first performance, his rival David was 
standing full before him^ and after the service, he 
was called on to give thanks, which he did with the 
greatest effect, completely extinguishing poor John, 
and unanimously bearing away the palm. John felt 



Scottish Life Cff Character, 25 

his defeat most keenly, and could not conceal his 
mortification. On his way to the churchyard, he 
hinted to two or three beside him, his ability to 
eclipse David, and proposed that after the interment 
they should adjourn to the public house, and order 
bread, and cheese, and ale, to afford him an oppor- 
tunity of proving his ability over his antagonist. 
The proposal was agreed to, and John held forth 
with the greatest unction for nearly half an hour. 

The Rev. Mr. Laurie of Earkmichael, Ayrshire, 
was in the habit of giving an exhortation to those 
attending a funeral, after the grave was filled up. 
On the last occasion that he thus addressed them, 
William M'Murtie, keeper of the village inn, was at 
the funeral, and had got something more than 
enough. He was on very intimate terms with the 
minister. William saw the trouble which it took 
to replace a very large ^^ through stane " on the grave, 
and when the minister began to intimate that though 
they now put dust to dust, yet the day was not far 
distant, when he would assuredly rise again. '^ My 
faith," said William, '^ if ye ettle him to rise again, 
ye' re no his freen' to put that stane on him, for the 
rest will be up and past the Clawbag wood, afore 
he get frae 'neath it, and the stoor shaken afFhim." 

Some of the elders were great humorists and 
originals in their way. An elder of the kirk at 



26 Reminiscences of 

Muthill used to manifest his humour and originality 
by his mode of collecting the alms. As he went 
round with the ladle, he used to remind such 
members of the congregation as seemed backward 
in their duty, by giving them a poke with the ^' brod," 
and makings in an audible whisper, such remarks as 
these — "Wife at the braid mailin, mind the puir;" 
'' Lass wi' the braw plaid, mind the puir," etc., a 
mode of collecting which marks rather a by-gone 
state of things. 

One question connected with .religious feeling, 
and the manifestation of religious feelings has become 
a settled point amongst us, since fifty years have 
expired. I mean the question of attendance by 
clergymen on theatrical representations. Dr. Car- 
lyle had himself been prosecuted before the General 
Assembly in 1757 for being present at the perform- 
ance of the Tragedy of Douglas, by his friend 
John Home. He was acquitted^ however, and 
writes thus on the subject. 

" Although the clergy in Edinburgh and its neigh- 
bourhood had abstained from the theatre, because it 
gave offence^ yet the more remote clergymen, when 
occasionally in town, had almost universally attended 
the playhouse. It is remarkable that^ in the year 
1784, when the great actress Mrs. Siddons first 
appeared in Edinburgh, ^ during the sitting of the 



Scottish Life £5? Character. 27 

General Assembly^ that Court was obliged to fix 
all its important business for the alternate days when 
she did not act, as all the younger members^ clergy 
as- well as laity, took their stations in the theatre on 
those days, by three in the afternoon." 

Drs. Robertson and Blair, although they culti- 
vated the acquaintance of Mrs. Siddons in private, 
were amongst those clergymen referred to by Dr. 
Carlyle^ who abstained from attendance in the 
theatre; but Dr. Carlyle states^ that they regretted 
not taking the opportunity of witnessing a display 
of her talent^ and of giving their sanction to the 
theatre as a place of recreation. Dr. Carlyle 
evidently considered it a narrow-minded intolerance 
and bigotted fanaticism, that clergymen should be 
excluded from that amusement. At a period far 
later than 1784^ the same opinion prevailed in some 
quarters. I recollect when such indulgence on the 
part of clergymen, was treated with much leniency, 
especially for Episcopalian clergy. I do not mean 
to say, that there was anything like a general feeling 
in favour of clerical theatrical attendance, but there 
can be no question of a feeling far less strict than 
what exists in our own time. As I have said, thirty- 
six years ago some clergymen went to the theatre, 
and a few years before that, when my brothers and 
I were passing through Edinburgh, in going back- 



28 Reminiscences of 

ward and forward to school^ at Durham, with our 
tutor^ a licentiate of the Established Church of Scot- 
land, and who afterwards attained considerable 
eminence in the Free Church, we certainly went with 
him to the theatre there, and at Durham, very fre- 
quently. We may consider the question now fully 
decided, as regards Scotland. I feel quite assured, 
no clergyman could expect to retain the respect of 
his people or of the public, of whom it was known 
that he attended theatrical representations. It is so 
understood. I had opportunities of conversing with 
the late Mr. Murray of the Theatre Royal, Edin- 
burgh, and with Mr. Charles Kean on the subject. 
Both admitted the fact, and certainly if any men 
of the profession could have removed the feeling 
from the public mind, these were the men to have 
done it. 

There is a phase of religious observances which 
has undergone a great change amongst us within 
fifty years. I mean the services and circumstances 
connected with the administration of the Holy 
Communion. When these occurred in a parish 
they were called ^^ occasions," and the great inte- 
rest excited by these sacramental solemnities may be 
gathered from '^ Peter's Letters," '' The Annals of 
the Parish," and Burns' poem. Such ceremonials 
are now conducted, I believe, just as the ordinary 



Scottish Life i^ Character. 29 

Church services. Some years back they were con- 
sidered a sort of preaching matches. Ministers 
vied with each other in order to bear away the bell 
in popularity, and hearers embraced the opportunity 
in exhibiting to one another their powers of criticism 
on what they heard and saw. In the parish of 
Urr^ Dumfriesshire, on one sacramental occasion, 
some of the assistants invited were eminent ministers 
in Edinburgh ; Dr. Scot, of St. Michael's, Dumfries, 
was the only local one who was asked, and he was^ 
in his own sphere, very popular as a preacher. A 
brother clergyman complimenting him upon the 
honour of being so invited, the old bald-headed 
divine modestly replied, " Gude bless you, man, 
what can I do ? They're a' han' wailed^ this time ; 
I need never shew face among them." '^ Ye're 
quite mistaen," was the soothing encouragement, 
'' tak' your Resurrection (a well-known service used 
for such occasions by him), an' I'll lay my lug ye '11 
beat every clute o' them." The Doctor did as sug- 
gested, and exerted himself to the utmost, and it 
appears he did not exert himself in vain. A batch 
of old women, on their way home after the con- 
clusion of the services, were overheard discussing 
the merits of the several preachers who had that day 
addressed them from the tent. '' Leeze me abune 
1 Carefully selected. 



3o Reminiscences of 

them a* " said one of the company who had waxed 
warm in the discussion, ^^ for yon auld clear-headed 
(bald) man, that said, ' Raphael sings an' Gabriel 
strikes his goolden harp, an' a' the angels clap their 
wings wi' joy/ O but it was gran', it just put me 
in min' o' our geese at Dunjarg when they turn 
their nebs to the south an' clap their wings when 
they see the rain's comin' after lang drooth." 

There is a subject closely allied with the reli- 
gious feelings of a people, and that is the subject of 
their superstitions. To enter upon that question, in 
a general view, especially in reference to the High- 
lands, is far too wide a field for the present occa- 
sion. But I am supphed with an account of a 
peculiar superstition regarding swine which existed 
some years ago among the lower orders of the east 
coast of Fife. I can observe, in my own experience, 
a great change to have taken place amongst Scotch 
people generally on this subject. Horror of the 
"unclean animal" still lingers in the Highlands, 
but seems in the lowland districts to have yielded 
to a sense of its thrift and usefulness.^ The 
account given by my correspondent is too curious 
to be omitted. I give it as I received it. 

I I recollect an old Scottish gentleman, who shared this 
horror, asking very gravely, '' Were not swine forbidden 
under the law, and cursed under the gospel ? " 



Scottish Life Csf Character. 31 

Among the many superstitious notions and 
customs prevalent among the lower orders of the 
fishing towns on the east coast of Fife, till very 
recently, that class entertained a great horror of 
swine, and even at the very mention of the word. 
If that animal crossed their path when about to set 
out on a sea voyage^ they considered it so unlucky 
an omen that they would not venture off. A 
clergyman of one of these fishing villages having 
mentioned this superstition to a clerical friend, and 
finding that he was rather incredulous on the sub- 
ject, in order to convince him told him he would 
allow him an opportunity of testing the truth of it 
by allowing him to preach for him the following 
day. It was arranged that his friend was to read 
the chapter relating to the herd of swine into 
which the evil spirits were cast. Accordingly^ 
when the first verse was read in which the unclean 
beast was mentioned, a slight commotion was 
observable among the audience, each one of them 
putting his or her hand on any near piece of iron — 
a nail on the seat or bookboard, or to the nails on 
their shoes. At the repetition of the word again 
and again, more commotion was visible, and the 
words ^' cauld airn " (cold iron)^ the antidote to 
this baneful spell, were heard issuing from various 
corners of the church. And finally, on his coming 



32 Reminiscences of 

over the hated word again, when the whole herd 
ran . violently down the bank into the sea, the 
alarmed parishioners, irritated beyond bounds, rose 
and all left the church in bodies. 

The great change — the great improvement, I 
would say — which has taken place during the last 
half century in the feelings and practical relations of 
religion with social life is, that it has become more 
diffused through all ranks and all characters. Before 
that period many good sort of people were afraid of 
making a special religious profession, and were 
always separated from those who did. Persons who 
made a profession at all beyond the low standard 
generally adopted in society were marked out as 
objects of fear or of distrust. The anecdote at page ' 
lo regarding the practice of family prayer fully 
proves this. Now religious people and religion itself 
are not kept aloof from the ordinary current of men's 
thoughts and actions. There is no such marked line 
as used to be drawn round persons who make a 
decided profession of religion. Christian men and 
women have stepped over the line, and without 
compromising their Christian principle, are not 
necessarily either morose, uncharitable, or exclusive. 
The effects of the separation were injurious to men's 
minds. Religion was with many associated with 
Puritanism, with cant, and unfitness for the world. 



Scottish Life &? Character. 33 

There was an impression too, not unnatural on many 
minds^ that the almost exclusive reference to doctrinal 
subjects, and the dread of upholding the law, and of 
enforcing its more minute details^ were not favour- 
able to the cause of moral rectitude and practical 
holiness of life. This was hinted in a sly way 
by a young member of the kirk to his old-fashioned 
father^ a minister of the severe and high Calvinistic 
school. Old Dr. Lockhart of Glasgow was lament- 
ing one day, in the presence of his son John, the 
fate of a man who had been found guilty of immoral 
practices, and the more so that he was one of his 
own elders ; remarked his son, " Well, father, you 
see what you've driven him to." 

The same feeling came forth with much point 
and humour on an occasion referred to in ^' Carlyle's 
Memoirs." In a company where John Home and 
David Hume were present, much wonder was 
expressed what could have induced a clerk belong- 
ing to Sir William Forbes' bank to abscond, and 
embezzle ;,^900. '' I know what it was^" said Home 
to the historian, '' for when he was taken there was 
found in his pocket a volume of your philosophical 
works and Boston's 'Fourfold State' " — a hit, ist, 
at the infidel, whose principles would have under- 
mined Christianity; and 2^^z. hit at the Church, which 
had expelled him for writing the tragedy of Douglas. 

D 



i 




m 



CHAPTER 11. 
On Old Scottish Conviviality. 

N adding a few materials to Reminiscences 
regarding the former convivial habits of 
Scottish social life, one cannot help 
looking back with amazement at the infatuation 
which could for a moment tolerate such a sore evil. 
To a man of sober inclinations, it must have been 
an intolerable nuisance to join a dinner party at 
many houses, where he knew he should have to 
witness the most disgusting excesses in others, 
and to fight hard to preserve himself from a com- 
pliance with the example of those around him. A 
friend of mine, lately departed, Mr. Boswell of 
Balmuto, found himself in this situation. Chal- 
lenged by the host to drink^ urged and almost 
forced to swallow a quantity of wine against his 
own inclination, he proposed a counter challenge in 
the way of eating, and made the following ludicrous 



Scottish Life £5? Character, 35 

and original proposal to the company, that two or 
three legs of mutton should be prepared, and he 
would then contest the point of who could devour 
most meat ; and certainly it seems as reasonable to 
compel people to eat^ as to compel them to drink^ 
beyond the natural cravings of nature. 

The situation of ladies^ too^ must frequently have 
been very disagreeable, when^ for instance^ gentlemen 
came up stairs in a condition most unfit for female 
society. Indeed they were often compelled to fly 
from scenes in the house most unfitting for them to 
witness. They were expected to get out of the way 
at the proper time, or when a hint was given them 
to do so. At Glasgow, forty years ago, when the 
time had come for the ho^ivl to be introduced, some 
jovial and thirsty member of the company proposed 
as a toast, '^ The trade of Glasgow and the outward 
hound ^'"'^ the hint was taken, and silks and satins 
moved off to the drawing-room. 

Reference is made at page 26 to Lord Her- 
mand's opinion of drinking^ and of the high estima- 
tion in which he held it, according to the testimony 
of Lord Cockburn. There is a remarkable corro- 
boration of this opinion in a current anecdote which 
is traditionary regarding the learned judge. A case 
of some great offence was tried before him^ and the 
counsel pleaded extenuation for his client in that he was 



;^6 Reminiscences of 

drunk when he committed the offence. '' Drunk ! " 
exclaimed Lord Hermand, in great indignation ; " if 
he could do such a thing when he was drunk, 
what might he not have done when he was sober ! " 
evidently implying that the normal condition of 
human nature, and its most hopeful one, was a con- 
dition of intoxication. 

Of the prevalence of hard drinking in certain 
houses, a remarkable proof is given at page 34. 
The following is a capital anecdote for the subject, 
and corresponds exactly with the story of the 
^' loosing the cravats," which was performed for 
guests in a state of helpless inebriety by one of the 
household. There had been a carousing party at 
Colonel Grant's, the late Lord Seafield, and as the 
evening advanced towards morning, two High- 
landers were in attendance to carry the guests up 
stairs, it being understood that none could by any 
other means arrive at their sleeping apartments. 
One or two of the guests, however, whether from 
their abstinence or their superior strength of head, 
were walking up stairs, and declined the proffered 
assistance. The attendants were utterly astonished, 
and indignantly exclaimed, ^^ Aigh, it's sare cheenged 
times at Castle Grant, when gentlemens can gang to 
bed on their ain feet." 

No feature of this intemperance was more 



Scottish Life i^ Character. 37 

revolting than its introduction at funeral solemnities. 
Examples of this abominable practice have already 
been given in the Reminiscences. I am assured 
of the truth of the following anecdote, by a son 
of the gentleman who acted as chief mourner on 
the occasion : — -About seventy years ago, an old 
maiden lady died in Strathspey. Just previous to 
her death, she sent for her grand-nephew, and 
said to him, ^' Willy, I'm deeing, and as ye '11 
hae the charge a I have, mind that as much 
whisky is to be used at my funeral as there was 
at my baptism." Willy neglected to ask the old 
lady what the quantity of whisky used at the bap- 
tism was, but when the day of the funeral arrived, 
believed her orders would be best fulfilled by 
allowing each guest to drink as much as he pleased. 
The churchyard where the body was to be deposited 
was about ten miles distant from where the death 
occurred. It was a short day in November, and 
when the funeral party came to the churchyard, the 
shades of night had considerably closed in. The 
grave-digger, whose patience had been exhausted in 
waiting, was not in the least willing to accept of 

Captain G 's (the chief mourner) apology for 

delay. After looking about him, he put the anxious 
question, ^* But, Captain, whaur's Miss Ketty?" The 
reply was, '4n her coffin, to be sure, and get it into 



38 Reminiscences of 

the earth as fast as you can." There, however, was 
no coffin ; the procession had sojourned at a country 
inn by the way — had rested the body on a dyke — 
started without it — and had to postpone the inter- 
ment until next day. My correspondent very justly 
adds the remark. What would be thought of indul- 
gence in drinking habits now that could lead to such 
a result ? 

' There was a practice in many Scottish houses 
which acted most injuriously upon the national ten- 
dency to spirit drinking^ and that was a foolish and 
inconsiderate custom of offering a glass on all occa- 
sions as a mark of kindness or hospitality. I men- 
tion the custom only for the purpose of offering a 
remonstrance. It should never be done. Even 
now, I am assured, small jobs (carpenter's or black- 
smith's^ or such like) are constantly remunerated in 
the West Highlands of Scotland — and doubtless in 
many other parts of the country — not by a pecuni- 
ary payment, but by a dram ; if the said dram 
be taken from a j^^mZ-decanter out of the family 
press or cupboard^ the compliment is esteemed the 
greater, and the offering doubly valued. 

A very amusing dialogue between a landlord 
and his tenant on this unfortunate question of the 
dram. John Colquhoun, an aged Dumbartonshire 
tenant, is asked by the Laird of C. on Loch 



Scottish Life &" Character. 39 

Lomond side, his landlord, to stay a minute till he 
tastes. *' Now^ John," says the Laird. '' Only 
half a glass, Camstraddale/' meekly pleads John. 
*' Which half ?" rejoins the Laird, '^ the upper or the 
lower ? " John grins, and turns off both — the upper 
and lower too. 

There is a most whimsical anecdote connected 
with the subject of drink, traditionary in the west 
of Scotland^ regarding an old Gallowegian lady, 
disclaiming more drink^ under the following circum- 
stances : — The old generation of Galloway lairds 
were a primitive and hospitable race, but their con- 
viviality sometimes led to awkward occurrences. 
In former days, when roads were bad, and wheeled 
vehicles almost unknown^ an old laird was returning 
from a supper party, with his lady mounted behind 
him on horseback. On crossing the river Urr, at 
a ford at a point where it joins the sea, the old 
lady dropped off, but was not missed till her hus- 
band reached his door, when, of course, there was 
an immediate search made. The party who were 
despatched in quest of her, arrived just in time to 
find her remonstrating with the advancing tide, 
which trickled into her mouth, in these words, 
^^ No anither drap : neither het nor cauld." 

I would now introduce, as a perfect illustration 
of this portion of our subject, two descriptions of 



40 Reminiscences of 

clergymen, well-known men in their day^ which are 
taken from Dr. Carlyle's work, already referred to. 
Of Dr. Alexander Webster, a clergyman^ and one 
of his cotemporaries, he writes thus — '^ Webster, 
leader of the high-flying party, had justly obtained 
much respect amongst the clergy, and all ranks in- 
deed^ for having established the Widows' Fund. 
. . . His appearance of great strictness in religion^ 
to which he was bred under his father, who was a 
very popular minister of the Tolbooth Church, not 
acting in restraint of his convivial humour^ he was 
held to be excellent company even by those of 
dissolute manners. While being a five-bottle man, 
he could lay them all under the table. This had 
brought on him the nickname of Dr. Bonum Magnum 
in the time of faction. But never being indecently 
the worse of liquor^ and a love of claret, to any 
degree, not being reckoned in those days a sin in 
Scotland^ all his excesses were pardoned.'^ 

Dr. Patrick Gumming also^ a clergyman, and a 
cotemporary, he describes in the following terms : — 
^^ Dr. Patrick Gumming was, at this time, 175 1, at 
the head of the moderate interest, and had his tem- 
per been equal to his talents, might have kept it 
long, for he had both learning and sagacity, and 
very agreeable conversation, ivith a constitution able 
to bear the conviviality of the times .^^ 



Scottish Life fc? Character. 41 

Now, of all the anecdotes and facts which I 
have collected, or of all which I have ever heard to 
illustrate the state of Scottish society in the past 
times, as regards its habits of intemperance, this 
assuredly surpasses them all. Of two well-known, 
distinguished, and leading clergymen in the middle 
of the eighteenth century, one who had ^' obtained 
much respect," and '' had the appearance of great 
strictness in religion^" is described as an enormous 
drinker of claret ; the other, an able leader of a 
powerful section in the Church, is described as 
owing his influence to his power of meeting the 
conviviality of the times. Suppose for a moment a 
future biographer describing some of the leading 
Scottish clergymen of the present time. Suppose 
the following descriptions to occur in future me- 
moirs : — ^' Dr. William Muir was a man who took 
a leading part in all church affairs at this time^ and 
was much looked up to ; he could always carry off 
without difficulty his five bottles of claret. Dr. 
Thomas Guthrie had great influence in society, 
and the General Assembly, as he could take his 
place in all companies, and drink on fair terms at 
the most convivial tables! !" Why, this seems 
to us so monstrous, that we can scarcely believe 
Dr. Carlyle's account of matters in his day to be 
possible. 



42 Reminiscences of 

There is a story which illustrates, with terrible 
force, the power which drinking had obtained in 
Scottish social life. I have been deterred from 
bringing it forward, as too shocking for production. 
But as the story is pretty well known, and its 
truth vouched for on high authority^ I venture to 
give it, as affording a proof that, in those days^ no 
consideration^ not even the most awful that affects 
human nature^ could be made to outweigh the 
claims of a determined conviviality. It may, I 
think, be mentioned also^ in the way of warning 
men generally against the hardening and demoraliz- 
ing effects of habitual drunkenness. The story is 
this : — At a prolonged drinking bout, one of the 
party remarked, '^ What gars the laird of Gar- 
skadden luk sae gash." ^ ^' Ou/' says his neighbour, 
the Laird of Kilmardinny^ *^ Garskadden's been wi' 
his Maker these twa hours ; I saw him step awa, 
but I didna like to disturb gude company !"^ 

Before closing this subject of excess in drinking^ 
I may refer to another indulgence in which our 
countrymen are generally supposed to partake more 
largely than their neighbours. I mean snuff-taking. 
The popular southern ideas of a Scotchman and 

1 Ghastly. 

2 The scene is described and place mentioned in Dr. 
Strang's account of Glasgow Clubs, p. 104, 2d edit. 



Scottish Life £ff Character. 43 

his snuff-box are inseparable. Smoking does not 
appear to have been practised more in Scotland 
than in England, and if Scotchmen are sometimes 
intemperate in the use of snuff, it is certainly a more 
innocent excess than intemperance in whisky. I 
recollect, amongst the common people in the north, 
a mode of taking snuff which shewed a determina- 
tion to make the most of it, and which indicated 
somewhat of intemperance in the enjoyment ; this 
was to receive it, not through a pinch between the 
fingers^ but through a quill or little bone ladle^ 
which forced it up the nose. But besides smoking 
and snuffing, I have a reminiscence of a third use of 
tobacco, which I apprehend is now quite obsolete. 
Some of my readers will be surprised when I nam^ 
this forgotten luxury. It was called plugging^ and 
consisted (horesco referrens) in poking a piece of pig- 
tail tobacco right into the nostril. I remember this 
distinctly, and now, at a distance of sixty years, I 
recall my utter astonishment as a boy, at seeing my 
grand-uncle, with whom I lived in early days, put a 
thin piece of tobacco fairly up his nose. I suppose 
the plug acted as a continued stimulant on the ole- 
factory nerve, and was, in short, like taking a per- 
petual pinch of snuff. 

The inveterate snuff-taker, like the dram drinker, 
felt severely the being deprived of his accustomed 



44 Reminiscences^ etc. 

stimulant, as in the following instance : — A severe 
snow-storm in the Highlands, which lasted for 
several weeks, having stopped all communication 
betwixt neighbouring hamlets^ snuff-takers were 
reduced to their last pinch. Borrowing and beg- 
ging from all the neighbours within reach was 
resorted to, but this soon failed, and all were alike 
reduced to the extremity which unwillingly-abstinent 
snuffers alone know. The minister of the parish 
was amongst the unhappy number ; the craving was 
so intense, that study was out of the question. As 
a last resort, the beadle was despatched, through 
the snow, to a neighbouring glen in the hope of 
getting a supply ; but he came back as unsuccessful 
As he went. '^ What's to be dune, John ? '' was the 
minister's pathetic inquiry. John shook his head, 
as much as to say, that he could not tell ; but 
immediately thereafter started up, as if a new idea 
had occurred to him. He came back in a few 
minutes, crying, '' Hae." The minister, too eager 
to be scrutinizing, took a long, deep pinch, and 
then said, '' Whar did you get it?" ^^ 1 soupit^ 
the poupit," was John's expressive reply. The 
minister's accumulated superfluous Sabbath snuff 
now came into good use. 

I Swept. 




CHAPTER III. 
On the Old Scottish Domestic Servant. 

N the third division of our subject, the 
old Scottish Domestic Servant, I have 
not much to add. I suppose the race 
is nearly extinct. We could hardly believe it 
possible now^ for a coachman to make the reply t<f 
his mistress which is recorded at page 48, or the 
still stronger assertion of his official position by one 
who met an order to quit his master's service by 
the cool reply^ '^ Na, Na; I'm no ganging. If ye 
dinna ken whan yeVe a good servant^ I ken whan 
I've a gude place." 

It has been suggested by my esteemed friend. 
Dr. W. Lindsay Alexander^ that Scottish anec- 
dotes deal too exclusively with the shrewd, quaint^ 
and pawky humour of our countrymen, and have 
not sufficiently illustrated the deep pathos and strong 
loving-kindness of the '^ kindly Scot," — qualities 



46 Reminiscences of 

which, however little appreciated across the border, 
abound in Scottish poetry and Scottish life. For 
example^ to take the case before us of these old 
retainers, although snappy and disagreeable to the 
last degree in their replies^ and often most pro- 
voking in their ways^ they were yet deeply and 
sincerely attached to the family where they had so 
long been domesticated \ and the servant who would 
reply to her mistress' order to mend the fire by the 
short answer^ '^ The fire's weel eneuch," would at 
the same time evince much interest in all that might 
assist her in sustaining the credit of her domestic 
economy^ as, for example^ whispering in her ear at 
dinner, ^^ Press the jeellies ; they winna keep," and 
had the hour of real trial and of difficulty come to 
the family, would have gone to the death for them, 
and shared their greatest privations. Dr. Alex- 
ander gives a very interesting example of kindness 
and affectionate attachment in an old Scottish do- 
mestic of his own family^ whose quaint and odd fami- 
liarity was charming. I give it in his own words : — 
'^ When I was a child, there was an old servant at 
Pinkieburn^ where my early days were spent, who 
had been all her life, I may say, in the house, for 
she came to it a child, and lived without ever leav- 
ing it, till she died in it^ seventy-five years of age. 
Her feeling to her old master, who was just two 



Scottish Life ^ Character, 47 

years younger than herself, was a curious compound 
of the deference of a servant, and the familiarity 
and affection 'of a sister. She had known him as 
boy, lad, man, and old man, and she seemed to have 
a sort of notion, that without her he must be a very 
helpless being indeed. ' I aye keepit the house for 
him, whether he was hame or awa,' was a frequent 
utterance of hers ; and she never seemed to think 
the intrusion even of his own nieces, who latterly 
lived with him, at all legitimate. On her deathbed, 
he hobbled to her room with difficulty, having just 
got over a severe attack of gout, to bid her fare- 
well. I chanced to be present, but was too young 
to remember what passed, except one thing, which 
probably was rather recalled to me afterwards, 
than properly recollected by me. It was her last 
request. ' Laird,' said she (for so she always 
called him, though his lairdship was of the smallest), 
' will ye tell them to bury me whaur Til lie across 
at your feet. I have always thought this charac- 
teristic of the old Scotch servant, and as such I send 
it to you." 

And here I would introduce another story which 
struck me very forcibly as illustrating the union of 
the qualities referred to by Dr. Alexander. In the 
following narrative, how deep and tender a feeling is 
expressed in a brief dry sentence ! I give Mr. Scott's 



48 Reminiscences of 

language ^ : — *' My brother and I were, during our 
High School vacation, some forty years ago, very 
much indebted to the kindness of a clever young 
carpenter employed in the machinery workshop of 
New Lanark Mills, near to which we were residing 
during our six weeks' holidays. It was he — Samuel 
Shaw, our dear companion — who first taught us to 
saw, and to plane, and to turn, too ; and who made 
us the bows and arrows in which we so much 
delighted. The vacation over, and our hearts very 
sore, but bound to Samuel Shaw for ever, our 
mother sought to place some pecuniary recompense 
in his hand at parting, for all the great kindness he 
had shewn her boys. Samuel looked in her face, 
and gently moving her hand aside, with an affec- 
tionate look cast upon us, who were by, exclaimed, 
in a tone which had sorrow in it, ^' Noo, Mrs. Scott, 
ye ha'e spoilt aV After such an appeal, it may be 
supposed no recompense, in silver or in gold, re- 
mained with Samuel Shaw. 

On the subject of the old Scottish domestic, I 
have to acknowledge a kind communication from 
Lord Kinloch, which I give in his Lordship's words : 
— ^' My father had been in the counting-house of the 
well-known David Dale, the founder of the Lanark 
Mills, and eminent for his benevolence. Mr. Dale, 
I Rev. R. Scott of Cranwell. 



Scottish Life £5? Character. 49 

who it would appear was a short stout man, had a 
person in his employment named Matthew, who 
was permitted that familiarity with his master which 
was so characteristic of the former generation. 
One winter day, Mr. Dale came into the counting- 
house, and complained that he had fallen on the 
ice. Matthew, who saw that his master was not 
much hurt, grinned a sarcastic smile. ' I fell all 
my length,' said Mr. Dale. * Nae great lengthy 
sir,' said Matthew. ' Indeed, Matthew, ye need 
not laugh,' said Mr. Dale; ' I have hurt the sma' 
of my back.' ' I wunner whaur that is,' said 
Matthew." Indeed, specimens like Matthew of 
serving-men of the former time have latterly been 
fast going out, but I remember one or two speci- 
mens. Mrs. Grant of Kilgraston, the sister of 
Lord Bannatyne and Lady McGregor Murray, had 
one named John in her house at Portobello. I 
remember how my modern ideas were offended 
by John's familiarity when waiting at table. " Some 
more wine, John," said his mistress. '^ There's some 
i' the bottle, mem," said John. A little after, 
" Mend the fire, John." '' The fire's weel aneuch, 
mem," replied the impracticable John. Another 
" John " of my acquaintance was in the family of 
Mrs. Campbell of Ardnave, mother of the Princess 
Polignac and the Honourable Mrs. Archibald Mac- 

E 



50 Reminiscences of 

donald. A young lady visiting in the family asked 
John at dinner for a potato. John made no re- 
sponse. The request was repeated ; when John, 
putting his mouth to her ear, said, very audibly, 
^'There's jist twa in the dish, and they maun be 
keepit for the strangers." 

The following was sent me by a kind cor- 
respondent — a learned Professor in India — as a 
sample of squabbling between Scottish servants. A 
mistress observing something peculiar in her maid^s 
manner, addressed her, '' Dear me, Tibbie, what 
are you so snappish about, that you go knocking 
the things as you dust them?" ^' Ou, mem, it's 
Jock." '^ Well ; what has Jock been doing .'^" 
'' Ou (with an indescribable, but easily imaginable 
toss of the head), he was angry at me, an' misca'd 
me. an' I said I was juist as the Lord had made 

me, an' ." " Well, Tibbie ?" " An' he said 

the Lord could ha' had little to do whan he made 
me.'' The idea of Tibbie's being the work of an 
idle moment, was one, the deliciousness of which 
was not likely to be relished by Tibbie. 

There have been some very amusing instances 
given of the matter of fact obedience paid to orders 
by Highland retainers when made to perform the 
ordinary duties of domestic servants, as when Mr. 
Campbell, a Highland gentleman, visiting in a country 



Scottish Life Cf? Character. 5 1 

house, and telling Donald to bring everything out 
of the bed-room, found all its moveable articles, 
fender, fire-irons, etc., piled up in the lobby. So 
literal was the poor man's sense of obedience to 
orders ! And of this, he gave a still more extraordi- 
nary proof during his sojourn in Edinburgh, by a 
very ludicrous exploit. When the family moved into 
a house there, Mrs. Campbell gave him very par- 
ticular instructions regarding visitors, explaining, that 
they were to be shewn into the drawing-room, and 
no doubt used the Scotticism, '^ Carry any ladies 
that call up stairs." On the arrival of the first 
visitors, Donald was eager to shew his strict atten- 
tion to the mistress' orders. Two ladies came to- 
gether, and Donald, seizing one in his arms, said to 
the other, '^ Bide ye there 'till I come for ye," and, 
in spite of her struggles and remonstrances, ushered 
the terrified visitor into Mrs. Campbell's presence 
in this unwonted fashion. 

Another case of literal obedience to orders, pro- 
duced a somewhat startling form of message. A 
servant of an old maiden lady, a patient of Dr. 
Poole, formerly of Edinburgh, was under orders 
to go to the doctor every morning to report the 
state of her health, how she had slept, etc., with 
strict injunctions always to add, ^^ with her compli- 
ments." At length, one morning the girl brought 



52 Reminiscences of 

this extraordinary message : — Miss S 's com- 
pliments, and she de'ed last night at aicht o'clock!" 

I recollect, in Montrose (that fruitful field for 
old Scottish stories !), a most naive reply from an 
honest lass, servant to old Mrs. Captain FuUerton. 
A party of gentlemen had dined with her, and they 
had a turkey for dinner. Mrs. F. proposed that one 
of the legs should be deviled^ and the gentlemen have 
it served up as a relish for their wine. Accordingly, 
one of the company skilled in the mystery, prepared 
it with pepper, cayenne, mustard, ketchup, etc. 
He gave it to Lizzy, and told her to take it down 
to the kitchen, supposing, as a matter of course, 
she would know that it was to be broiled, and 
brought back in due time. But in a little while, 
when it was rung for, Lizzy very innocently re- 
plied^ that she had ate it up. As it was sent back 
to the kitchen, her only idea was, that it must be 
for herself. But, on surprise being expressed that 
she had eaten what was so highly peppered and 
seasoned, she very quaintly answered, '^ Ou, I liket 
it a' the better." 

A well-known servant of the old school, was 
John, the servant of Pitfour, Mr. Ferguson, M.P., 
himself a most eccentric character, long father 
of the House of Commons, and a great friend of 
Pitt. John used to entertain the tenants on Pit- 



Scottish Life Cff Character. ^i^ 

four's brief visits to his estate with numerous anec- 
dotes of his master and Mr. Pitt ; but he always 
prefaced them with something in the style of Cardi- 
nal Wolsey's Ego et rex meus^ with ^' Me and Pitt, 
and Pitfour," went somewhere^ or performed some 
exploit. The famous Duchess of Gordon once 
wrote a note to John (the name of this eccentric 
valet), and said, '^ John^ put Pitfour into the car- 
riage on Tuesday, and bring him up to Gordon 
Castle to dinner." After sufficiently scratching his 
head, and considering what he should do, he shewed 
the letter to Pitfour, who smiled, and said dryly, 
*' Well, John, I suppose we must go." 

An old domestic of this class gave a capital 
reason to his young master for his being allowed 
to do as he liked : — ^^ Ye needna find faut wi' me, 
Maister Jeems, / hae been langer about the place than 
yerseL 




CHAPTER IV. 

On Humour proceeding from Scottish Lan- 
guage^ INCLUDING Scottish Proverbs. 

E have now to enter upon the portion 
of our subject which in the " Remi- 
niscences" has been named '^Humour 
proceeding from Scottish Language, including Scot- 
tish Proverbs/' I am quite aware that the difference 
between the anecdotes belonging to this division 
and to the division termed '* Wit and Humour" is 
very indistinct^ and must, in fact, in many cases, be 
quite arbitrary. Much of what we enjoy most in 
Scottish stories is not on account of any real wit or 
humour in the speaker^ but, it may be, from the 
odd and unexpected view which is taken^ or from 
the quaint and original turn of the expression made 
use of, or from the simple and matter of fact 
reference made to circumstances which are new to 



Scottish Life ^ Character. 55 

them. I shall not, therefore, be careful to preserve 
any strict line of separation between this division 
and the next. Each is conversant with what is 
amusing and with what is Scotch. What we have 
now chiefly to illustrate by suitable anecdotes is pecu- 
liarities of Scottish language — its various humorous 
turns and odd expressions. 

We commence, therefore, with stories where 
words and expressions which are peculiarly Scotch 
impart the humour and the point. Sometimes they 
are altogether untranslatable into another language. 
As for example, a parishioner in an Ayrshire 
village meeting his pastor, who had just returned 
after a considerable absence on account of ill health, 
congratulated him on his convalescence, and added, 
anticipatory of the pleasure he would have in hear- 
ing him again, ^^ Im unco yuckie to hear a blaud o' 
yer gab." This is an untranslatable form of saying 
how glad he should be to hear his minister's voice 
again speaking to him the words of salvation and 
of peace from the pulpit. 

The two following are good examples of that 
Scottish style of expression which has its own 
character. They are kindly sent by Sir Archibald 
Dunbar. The first illustrates Scottish acute dis- 
cernment. A certain titled lady is known around 
our county town for her long-continued and exten- 



^6 Reminiscences of 

sive charities, which are not withheld from those 
who least deserve them. A few years since, by 
the unexpected death of her brother and of his 
only son, she became possessor of a fine estate. 
The news soon spread in the neighbourhood^ and a 
group of old women were overheard in the street of 
Elgin discussing the fact. One of them said, '^ Aye, 
she may prosper, for she has baith the prayers of 
the good and of the bad." 

The second anecdote is a delightful illustration 
of Mrs. Hamilton's " Cottagers of Glenburnie," and 
of the old-fashioned Scottish pride in the midden. 
About twenty years ago, under the apprehension of 
cholera, committees of the most influential inha- 
bitants of the county of Moray were formed to 
enforce a more complete cleansing of our towns 
and villages, and to induce the cottagers to remove 
their dunghills or dung-pits from too close a proxi- 
mity to their doors or windows. One determined 
woman, on the outskirts of the town of Forres, I 
suppose with her future potato crop in view, met 
our M. P., who headed one of these committees, 
thus, '' Noo, Major, you may tak our lives, but 
yell no tak our midden." 

The equivoke of the Edinburgh Provost telling 
the House of Lords, in his evidence, of guns fitted 
for shooting deuks and sic like fools, supplied the 



Scottish Life &? Character. 57 

material for a poor woman's honest compliment to 
a benevolent Scottish nobleman. John, Duke of 
Roxburghe, was one day out riding, and at the 
gate of Floors he was accosted by an importunate 
old beggar woman. He gave her half-a-crown, 
which pleased her so much that she exclaimed, 
'' God bless your ^^j-^-like face, for a Deuk's no 
gude eneuch for ye." 

There is something quite inimitable in the 
matter-of-factness of the following story of an 
advertisement, which may tend to illustrate the 
Antiquary's remark to Mrs. M^Candlish, anent the 
starting of the coach or fly to Queensferry. A 
carrier, who plied his trade between Aberdeen and 
a village considerably to the north of it, was asked 
by one of the villagers, '' Fan are ye gaun to the 
town " (Aberdeen) ? To which he replied, '^ 111 
be in on Monanday, God willin' an' weather per- 
mitting, an' on Tiseday,^//6^r or noT 

There could not be a better anecdote to accom- 
pany the story of the young man that was '' a' soun," 
than the following, supplied by a kind lady corres- 
pondent. Towards the end of the last century, an 

ancestor of mine, the Rev. Mr. B , minister of 

the parish of Abercorn, on a Sunday, when he had 
occasion to be absent, confided his pulpit to a young 
probationer, who fired off one of those flash sermons 



58 Reminiscences of 

we have all listened to, missing every aim but the 
only too evident one of ministering to the vanity of 
the speaker. Strutting out in the evening with 
one of the young ladies of the family, the flush 
and elation of his morning's performance still 
unsubsided, and chancing to pass a cottage from 
whence proceeded the sounds of evening devotion, he 
eagerly drew near to listen. '' It would be so 
curious," he said, '' to hear what these simple 
uneducated people had to say." A voice, tremulous 
with age, was pouring forth one of those fervent 
prayers so frequently to be heard among our pious 
peasantry, one which might have been uttered by 
some David Deans on the hill-side. Somewhat 
solemnized, and in evident wonder, the young 
preacher listened attentively, till, from general sup- 
plication, the old man came to particulars, and 
besought God to have mercy on ^^ the poor parish 
of Abercorn^ for they had been fed out o' a toom 
spoon that day." The young man shrunk away^ 
having heard rather too much of what such people 
say. 

Amongst many of the sayings by Mr. Shirra, 
page 196, I have the following from a kind corre- 
spondent, with assurance of its being genuine : — 
*^ Mr. Shirra having, on a certain occasion, felt some- 
what indisposed towards the end of the week, re- 



Scottish Life £5? Character. 59 

solved to avail himself of the services of a young 
probationer for both diets of worship on the ensuing 
Sunday. This young man gave promise of becom- 
ing a fair preacher^ but affected great refinement in 
style and delivery. Mr. Shirra attended the fore- 
noon service, which was conducted pretty much to 
his satisfaction, except in one particular. In the 
prayer after sermon, the preacher put up, as usual, 
a petition for a blessing on Mr. Shirra and his 
ministry, but, in doing so, was unlucky enough to 
make some rather pointed allusions to Mr. Shirra's 
habit of plain speaking, and peculiarities in manner. 
This fired the worthy divine, who resolved at once 
to be ^upsides' with the finical gentleman. He 
accordingly intimated to the preacher, that he felt 
himself well enough to undertake the afternoon 
duty, and would therefore officiate. He did so ; 
and thus obtained an opportunity of giving a Roland 
for an Oliver. The young preacher, who was pre- 
sent in Mr. Shirra's pew, was prayed for as a pro- 
mising labourer in the vineyard^ but withal, as much 
in need of a thorough handling in regard to style 
and manner^ the modus operandi in reference to which 
being suggested in the following petition, delivered 
with great fervour : — ^ But oh, please tak a brog,^ 
and prod him weel, and let the wind out o' him.' " 
I An awl or sharp pointed instrument. 



6o Reminiscences of 

The Rev. Dr. Cook of Haddington supplies an 
excellent anecdote^ of which the point is in the dry 
Scottish answer : — An old lady of the Doctor's 
acquaintance, about seventy^ sent for her medical 
attendant to consult him about a sore throat, which 
had troubled her for some days. Her medical 
man was ushered into her room, decked out with 
the now-prevailing fashion^ a mustache and flowing 
beard. The old lady, after exchanging the usual 
civilities^ described her complaint to the worthy son 
of jEsculapius. *• Well," says he, '' do you know, 
Mrs. Macfarlane, I used to be much troubled 
with the very same kind of sore throat, but ever 
since I allowed my mustache and beard to grow, I 
have never been troubled with it." " A-weel, 
a-weel^'' said the old lady drily, '^ that may be the 
case, but ye maun prescribe some other method for 
me to get quit o' the sair throat j for ye ken, doctor, 
I canna adopt that cure." 

But how exquisite the answer of old Mrs. 
Robison (widow of the eminent professsor of 
natural philosophy) to a gentleman whom she had 
invited to dinner on a particular day — he had 
accepted, with the reservation, ^^if I am spared"— 
^^ Weel, weel," said Mrs. Robison, ^' if ye're dead, 
I'll no expect ye.'^ 



Scottish Life ^ Character. 6 1 

How pithy and how wise, and also how Scotch 
is the following. 

A young lady, pressed by friends to marry a 
decent^ but poor man, on the plea, " Marry for 
love, and work for siller," replied^ " It's a' vera 
true, but a kiss and a tinniefu ^ o' cauld water maks 
a gey wersh^ breakfast." 

Could there be a happier metaphor for the 
occasion than this : — An old lady in Banffshire, 
hearing a minister of the Established Church preachy 
who hesitated much in the delivery of his pulpit 
discourses, remarked to a friend afterwards, that 
his delivery was just hke '^ an ill rinnin trackie," 
meaning thereby, when tea does not run freely from 
one of the brown tea-pots so generally in use in 
the north of Scotland. 

It is curious to contrast the expressions of 
English or Irish people with those uttered by 
Scotch people under similar circumstances. For 
example : — Along side of the anecdotes of the 
Scotch servants, " Cry a' the gither" (at page 54), 
I would place, though it be inferior, that of an 
Irish Roscommon ^' Tay-boy/' who, in the course 
of his waiting at the tea-table^ when subjected to 
too many calls upon his attendance by the Leedies 
I Tinnie, the small porringer of children. 2 Insipid. 



62 Reminiscences of 

present, at last, losing patience entirely, exclaimed 
in despair, ^' Och_, and ye bother me." 

The two following derive their force entirely 
from the Scottish turn of the expressions. Trans- 
lated into English, they would lose all point, — at 
least, much of the point which they now have. 

At the sale of an antiquarian gentleman's effects 
in Roxburghshire, which Sir Walter Scott happened 
to attend, there was one little article, a Roman 
patina^ which occasioned a good deal of competi- 
tion, and was eventually knocked down to the dis- 
tinguished baronet at a high price. Sir Walter was 
excessively amused during the time of bidding, to 
observe how much it excited the astonishment of 
an old woman, who had evidently come there to 
buy culinary utensils on a more economical prin- 
ciple. '' If the parritch-pan,'' she at last burst out — 
" if the parritch-pan gangs at that, what will the 
kail-pat gang for V 

An ancestor of Sir Walter Scott joined the 
Pretender, and, with his brother, was engaged in 
that unfortunate adventure which ended in a skir- 
mish and captivity at Preston, 17 15. It was the 
fashion of those times for all persons of the rank of 
gentlemen to wear scarlet waistcoasts. A ball had 
struck one of the brothers, and carried part of this 
dress into his body, and in this condition he was 



Scottish Life & Character. (^^^ 

taken prisoner with a number of his companions^ 
and stript, as was too often the practice in those 
remorseless wars. Thus wounded, and nearly- 
naked, having only a shirt on, and an old sack 
about them^ the ancestor of the great Poet was 
sitting, along with his brother and a hundred and 
fifty unfortunate gentlemen, in a granary at Preston. 
The wounded man fell sick, as the story goes, and 
vomited the scarlet cloth which the ball had 
passed into the wound. " O man, Wattie/ cried 
his brother, '^ if you have a wardrobe in your 
wame, I wish you would vomit me a pair o' breeks, 
for I have muckle need o' them." 

There is an anecdote told of the late Dr. Bar- 
clay, the eminent physician, which is inimitable for 
its pawkiness. Dr. Barclay originally studied for 
the church, and was indeed licensed as a preacher. 
His discourses took the peculiar impress of his 
mind. The mother of my informant once heard 
him preach in the Kirk of Muthill, his native parish. 
His subject was the character of Absalom, and, 
after dwelling on the enormity of his paricidal 
rebellion against his father, he concluded, *^ But let 
us draw a veil over a character marked by so many 
crimes — yet did the virgins of Israel lament him, 
for he was comely in person!" 

An amusing example of quaint Scottish language 



64 Reminiscences of 

being employed in a private journal. Many years 
ago, when the minister of a neighbouring parish 
died, a committee of the presbytery was appointed, 
probably with the approbation of his relatives, to 
examine his papers, and destroy what were deemed 
useless. It is narrated that one of the entries in 
the reverend gentleman's journal was as follows : — 
^' Eat crappit heads^ for supper last night, and was 
the ivaur o't ; see when I'll do the like o' that 
again." 

I have, at page 107, mentioned Lord Polkemmet, 
as affording specimens of strong original Scotch. 
We are furnished with another specimen. Our in- 
formant heard the following anecdote of him from 
the late Lord Mackenzie, on one of those delightful 
Circuit expeditions, when Lord Mackenzie was 
accustomed to pour out of his well-stored and in- 
genious mind an inexhaustible flow of humour and 
anecdote. 

The late James Fergusson, Clerk of Session, a 
most genial and amiable man, of whose periodical 
fits of absence most edifying stories are still repeated 
by his friends, was an excellent and eloquent 
speaker, but, in truth, there was often more sound 
than matter in his orations. He had a habit of 

I A compound made of oatmeal, suet, onions, and pepper, 
with which the heads of haddocks are stuffed. 



Scottish Life £5? Character. 65 

lending emphasis to his arguments^ by violently 
beating with his clenched hand the bar before 
which he pleaded. Once when stating a case to 
Lord Polkemmet, with great energy of action, his 
lordship interposed, and exclaimed^ ^' Maister Jemmy, 
dinna dunt ; ye think yeVe duntin't into me, and 
ye' re just duntin't oot o' me." 

Harry Erskine, the witty and accomplished Dean 
of Faculty, in one of his luminous addresses from 
the bar, illustrated his argument by a humorous 
story, which excited the risible faculties of the 
whole feifteen, save one, viz., Lord Polkemmet, 
who made no remark, and was observed to be 
graver than before. The Court adjourned till next 
day, when a fresh case was taken up. The Dean 
was stating it, when all at once, to the astonishment 
oPthe audience. Lord Polkemmet exclaimed, ^^Oh, 
Hairy, man ; Hairy, man, I hae ye noo ; I hae ye 
noo." He had been pondering over the Dean's 
joke for twenty-four hours, and it had at last dawned 
on his sluggish mind. He had probably let it 
wamble in his wame along with his interlocutor 
and his toddv. 

In the " Reminiscences " are several anecdotes 
of lairds, drunk and sober, with their sayings. I 
may mention, in further illustration of the habits and 
character of our landed proprietors, that some of 

F 



66 Reminiscences of 

these old lairds were remarkable for their tacitur- 
nity. A former laird of Brotherton was of this 
description, and was on all occasions a man of few 
words. He had a favourite tame goose, and for 
hours together Brotherton and his silent companion 
sat by the fireside opposite to each other. On one 
occasion a candidate for the representation of the 
county in Parliament called upon him to solicit his 
vote, and urged his request with much eloquence 
and voluble discourse ; to all which the laird 
replied only by nods and smiles, without saying a 
word. "When, however, the candidate was gone, 
he looked across to his goose, and emphatically 
remarked, '' I'm thinking yon windy chiel 'II no tell 
muckle that you and I said till him." 

As another instance of laconic jocund speaking, 
take the following : — Old Pringle of Torwoodlee, 
on some occasion, had a dinner given in his honour, 
after which was to be presented to him a silver cup. 
The gentleman fixed on to make an appropriate 
speech and present the cup, got up, and pushing it 
across the table towards him, said, '' Torwoodlee, 
there ^s your jug." Torwoodlee rose and responded, 
'^ Gentlemen, I thenk ye for the mug," and sat 
down again, satisfied with his eloquence. 

I have noticed as a prevalent feeling in Scotch- 
men advanced in life being particularly jealous of 



Scottish Life ^ Character. 67 

assistance from younger persons. I recollect the 
Hon. General Gordon of Fyvie^ when near ninety, 
drawing away^ with great indignation, at any one 
helping him into his carriage^ putting on his great- 
coat, etc. A correspondent notices a similar instance. 
Our old Iron Duke^ it was said, could not bear to 
be assisted, even in his latest years^ by the arm or 
the hand of any one. Of a piece with this feeling 
of the aged soldier was the rebuke which an old 
octogenarian clergyman in the west of Scotland 
administered to his grand-daughter, offering herself 
as his guide and support. I introduce the anecdote 
for the exquisite application of the Scotch word 
expressing her officious attention. When tottering 
from age and feebleness he went forth to take one 
of -his last walks, ^^What!" he testily exclaimed, 
'' are ye comin' after me ? I don't like, I tell you^ 
to be so herded ! ! " 

We have frequent reference in Scottish anec- 
dotes to the vast importance which civic dignitaries 
of towns attach to their municipal office. The wife 
of the Provost of Aberdeen^ when in London^ was 
unwilling to appear in public lest her presence 
should '^ creat a confeesion." (See page 106.) 
A denizen of the good city of St. Andrews, long 
desirous of being elected deacon of his craft, after 
many years of scheming and bowing, at last attained 



68 Reminiscences of 

the acme of his ambition, and while the oaths of 
office were being administered to him, a number of 
waggish friends waited outside to "• trot him out," 
but the sequel convinced them this was unnecessary. 
On emerging from the City Hall^ with thumbs 
stuck in the armlets of his vest, with head erect, 
and solemn step, he approached his friends^ lifting 
up his voice and saying, *' Now, billies^ supposing 
I'm a deacon^ mind I can be spoken to at ony 
time." 

A very good sample of the odd and original 
betheral is preserved in the traditions of Dunferm- 
line^ a very characteristic saying of whom has been 
communicated by a kind correspondent from that 
ancient burgh town. Sandy M'Lauchlan discharged 
the duties of betheral, kirk-officer, and bellman. 
He was a little man^ with sharp brown eyes and a 
mouth expressive of fun. One day the minister, 
Mr. Johnstone, was on his way down from the 
manse to the High Street, after breakfast, as was 
his wont, to get his letters at the post-office, and 
see the only newspaper which then came to enlighten 
the inhabitants with news of public and foreign 
affairs. Observing Sandy slinking along the oppo- 
site side of the cross^ as if to avoid a meeting, Mr. , 
Johnstone called out in his fine sonorous voice,. 
^' Saunders, I wish to speak to you." With some 



Scottish Life i^ Character. 69 

reluctance, Sandy came slowly forward, lifting his 
bonnet and pulling his forelock After giving Sandy 
certain directions about kirk matters^ the minister 
sniffed once or twice, and remarked, '^ Saunders^ I 
fear you have been ^ tasting ' (taking a glass) this 
morning." '* 'Deed^ sir," replied Sandy, with the 
coolest effrontery^ set off with a droll glance of his 
brown eyes^ — " 'Deed, sir, I was just ga'en to 
observe I thocht there was a smell o' speerits amang 
us this mornin' ! " 

The conceit of betherals has been often reverted 
to (see page 188), but I think the richest specimen 
of such conceit is the following : — A functionary of 
the genuine Scottish type in the west used to say, 
when inquired after by his friends, ^* Weel, I am 
just in the pulpit ilka Sabbath as usual." On some 
one inquiring at him if he could recommend anybody 
to the sexton's office in a neighbouring churchy 
^^ What's your wull .f^ " says James. "Do you 
know a decent man we could get for a beadle ? " 
'^ Na, na ; if it were a minister or an elder body, I 
could name plenty, but to get a man for such an 
office as that I canna pretend." 

I have already spoken of the inveterate tendency 
in Scotch people to mark position by reference to 
points of the compass. (See at pages 67 and 68.) 
To the Rev. R. A. Scott^ vicar of Cranwell^ I am 



yo Reminiscences of 

indebted (as for other favours) for a very humorous 
illustration of the same subject. At a billiard-room 
in Stirling (an unlikely place to find such a source of 
recreation some forty years ago), one of the yeo- 
manry cavalry then in the tovi^n, a half-Highland 
private in the corps from the shores of Loch of 
Menteith, was heard instructing a comrade, whom 
he was indoctrinating in the science of the ivory 
balls, to '^ streik the red ba' on the north-wast side, 
and ye would pockat it." 

I have spoken at page 103 of dialects, and of 
the difference of the Aberdeen when contrasted with 
Forfar dialect. But how much greater must be that 
difference when contrasted with the ore rot undo lan- 
guage of an English southern dignitary. Such a 
one being present at a school examination in Aber- 
deen wished to put some questions on Scripture 
history himself, and asked an intelligent boy^ '' What 
was the ultimate fate of Pharaoh ? " This the boy 
not understandings the master put the same question 
Aberdonice, ^' Jemmy, fat was the hinner end o' 
Pharaoh," which called forth the ready reply, " He 
was drouned i' the Red Sea." 

The following may be added to the list of 
Scottish expressions derived from French language. 
I have a distinct recollection of hearing, when a 
child, more than sixty years ago, the dairymaids 



Scottish Life Cs? Character. 71 

at Fasque calling to the cow, ^^ Prutchee, mou ; 
prutchee, madame." This invocation, it seems^ is 
common in Nithsdale, and is simply a corruption of 
the French, ^^Approchez moi; approchez, madame-," 
('*Come near me; come, my lady.") Again, the 
large clasp-knife, common a century ago, such as 
sailors use^ or larger^ was in my remembrance called 
a Jockteleg. It derived this name from its maker, 
as they were all made by Jaques de Liege. 

In connection with this division of our subject, 
the present seems to be a proper place for introduc- 
ing the mention of a Scottish peculiarity, viz., that 
of naming individuals from lands which have been 
possessed long by the family, or frequently from the 
landed estates which they acquire. The use of this 
mode of discriminating individuals in the Highland 
districts is sufficiently obvious. Where the inhabi- 
tants of a whole countryside are Campbells, or 
Frasers, or Gordons, nothing could be more con- 
venient than addressing the individuals of each clan 
by the name of his estate. Indeed, some years ago, 
any other designation, as Mr. Campbell, Mr. Fraser, 
would have been resented as an indignity. Their 
consequence sprung from their possession.^ But all 
this is fast wearing away. The estates of old 

I Even in Forfarshire, where Carnegies abound, we had 
Cralgo, Balnamoon, Pittarrow, etc. 



72 Reminiscences of 

families have often changed hands, and Highlanders 
are most unwilling to give the names of old properties 
to new proprietors. The custom, however, lingers 
amongst us, in the northern districts especially. Farms 
also used to give their names to the tenants.^ I can 
recall an amusing instance of this practice belonging 
to my early days. The oldest recollections I have 
are connected with the name, the figure^ the sayings 
and doings^ of the old cowherd at Fasque in my 
father's time ; his name was Boggy, /. f., his ordi- 
nary appellation ; his true name was Sandy Ander- 
son. But he was called Boggy from the circum- 
stance of having once held a wretched farm on 
Deeside named Boggendreep. He had long left 
it, and been unfortunate in it, but the name never 
left him, — he was Boggy to his grave. The terri- 
torial appellation used to be reckoned complimentary, 
and more respectful than Mr., or any higher title to 
which the individual might be entitled. I recollect, 
in my brother's time, at Fasque, his shewing off 
some of his home stock to Mr. Williamson, the 
great Aberdeen butcher. They came to a fine stot, 
and Sir Alexander said, with some appearance of 
boast, '^ I was offered twenty guineas for that ox." 

I This custom is still in use in Galloway, and * Chal- 
loch,' Eschonchan, ' Tonderghle,' Balsalloch, and Drum- 
morralj etc.> etc., appear regularly at kirk and market. 



Scottish Life ^ Character. 73 

^^ Indeed Fasque/' said Williamson, '' ye shud hae 
steekit your neive upo' that. ' 

Sir Walter Scott had marked in his diary a 
territorial greeting of two proprietors which had 
amused him much. The laird of Kilspindie had met 
the laird of Tannachy-TuUoch^ and the following 
compliments passed between them ; — ^^ Ye 're maist 
obedient hummil servant, Tannachy-TuUoch." To 
which the reply was, ^^Your nain man, Kilspindie." 

In proportion as we advance towards the High- 
land districts this custom of distinguishing clans or 
races, and marking them out according to the district 
they occupied, became more apparent. There was 
the Glengary country, the Fraser country^ the 
Gordon country^ etc., etc. These names carried 
also with them certain moral features as characteris- 
tic of each division. Hence the following anecdote : 
— The morning litany of an old laird of Cultoquhay, 
when he took his morning draught at the cauld well 
was in these terms — ^^ Frae the ire o' the Drum- 
monds, the pride o' the Graemes, the greed o' the 
Campbells, and the wind o' the Murrays, guid Lord 
deliver us.'' On being reproved by the Duke of 
Athole for taking such liberties with noble names, 
his answer was — ^^ There, my lord, there's the 
wind o' the Murray s !" 



74 Reminiscences of 

Proverbs. 

Under this head of language and dialect I have 
devoted a considerable space in the Reminiscences 
to our Scottish proverbs and proverbial expressions. 
I felt much disposed to reopen the question, and 
from Fergusson and others to bring forward another 
series of these interesting and popular abstracts of 
humour and philosophy^ but the attempt would 
occupy more time and attention than I can give at 
present. I would rather now recall some senten- 
tious or proverbial modes of expression which I 
recollect commonly used in society amongst a 
generation now nearly all passed away ; and in this 
recollection let me here acknowledge the valuable 
assistance I have received from a communication on 
the subject from a true-hearted Scotsman^ Mr. T. 
Stephen,^ who will recognize his own language in 
describing those old forms of Scottish proverbial 
expressions. Take the following examples : — 

'' Corbies winna pike out corbies een," imply that 
persons of the same profession^ or interested in the 
same objects, will not act to each other's disad- 
vantage. 

'* Like a hen on a het girdle'' is an expressive 

J Author of History of the Church of Scotland, 4 vols., 
and other excellent works. 



Scottish Life <Cs? Character. 75 

figure for describing the fidgety and eccentric gyra- 
tions of a tiresome person under excitement. 

When anything disappears in a silent impercep- 
tible manner, applied often to the gradual decline of 
human life^ or the secret wasteful expenditure of a 
fortune, how expressive that very Scottish simile for 
its passing for ever '' like snaw aff a dike." 

When a person does anything that is contrary 
to his habits or disposition^ it is common in Aberdeen- 
shire to say^ " I wish the bodie be na fey ;" that 
is^ that this unwonted act may not be a prelude to 
his death. 

In that same county, it is a common saying to 
accept cold liquor with an intimation that ^'It's a 
cauld heart that canna warm its ain drink ;" and to 
say, at any clever hit or repartee^ " That's het." 

^^Ill-fa'ard/' or " weel-fa'ard," means an ill or 
well favoured or looking person. 

" Hirsle yont," means go farther on. 

" No that gleg i' the uptack^" means not abso- 
lute deafness^ but not hearing quite distinctly ; and 
is indeed often applied to the understanding also. 

A common question in Aberdeen is^ ^' Fa fuppit 
the lawdy ?" varied sometimes by '' Fa skuggit the 
lawdy ?" that is, whipt or flogged the boy, meaning, 
who was his early instructor. 

To ^^ taigle" is to hinder or delay. 



76 Reminiscences of 

^' To pit owre a bit prayer." 

" It is cannier to fleech (or flatter) a fool than 
to fecht him." 

Mr. Stephen mentions a sly sententious expres- 
sion of his father to imply his disbelief — '^ If a' 
tales be true that's nae lee." His account of his 
grandmother certainly entitles her to rank amongst 
our vigorous old Scottish ladies. 

It is a common saying in Aberdeenshire, when 
one refuses to go anywhere or farther, ^^Deil a 
length o' my tae ," and when my grandmother — 
a woman who brought a son into the world who is 
living in it yet, after she was ffty-six years of age 
— when she was determined not to do any thing 
that was urged upon her, '^ I wonna be obstinate, 
but I wonna do't." 

It is said, that in those days when travelling was 
neither so easy nor so expeditious as it is at present^ 
an Aberdeen bailie went to London on business, 
and remained there some weeks. On his return 
his friends congratulated him on his appearance of 
having lived well in his absence. His reply was an 
expression of surprise ; for, said he, ^' Deil a speen 
was i' ma mou' a' the time I was awa." His 
meaning was that he had had no broth or soup 
during his stay in London, only solid meat. 

But that same bailie had been either a humorist, 



Scottish Life ^ Character, 77 

or had shot into the marvellous with a long bow. 
He exercised his ingenuity in describing his visit to 
the king [George III.]. He said he had been 
invited to the palace to tea^ and the queen requiring 
to fill up the teapot, the bailie rose to assist her 
Majesty^ when the king interposed by saying — " O 
never mind^ bailie \ Charlotte aye helps hersel to the 
kettle!" 

Local circumstances often supply proverbial ex- 
pressions which have a use and circulation almost 
exclusively provincial, as for example : — There is 
a common phrase in Galloway^ where there are a 
great many sharing in anything^ and in consequence 
it is rapidly diminishing — ^^ It's like Cun and the 
haggis ; it's gaan gear," — the origin of which I believe 
to be as follows : — A farmer, noted for the penu- 
riousness of his disposition^ had employed a servant 
or two to assist him in his agricultural operations. 
The name of the farm was abbreviated into ^'Cun^" 
and^ according to the usage in that locality, the 
farmer himself acquired the same designation. One 
day a haggis had been prepared for dinner, and Cun^ 
afraid that they would eat too much, cautioned the 
servants at the outset that they would need to eat 
sparingly^ or the haggis would spoil their stomach. 
The dish was placed in the centre, and each pro- 
vided with a spoon, they began to discuss its con- 



78 Reminiscences of 

tents. After partaking of a little, Cun laid down 
his spoon as a reminder, but the others seemed to 
have forgot his admonition. As a last resource, he 
prepared to return thanks, thinking that that might 
be a sufficient hint, but to no purpose. At last, 
seizing up his spoon^ he exclaimed, ^^ It s gaan gear, 
boys, I'll tak' a spunefu' yet," and so ate on till the 
haggis disappeared. Expressions and words such 
as these used to be far more mixed up with general 
Scottish language than they are at present. I re- 
member such quite common in society, especially with 
elderly persons. They are all now fast becoming 
obsolete, and will soon be heard only amongst the 
lower ranks. 

Much has been said of the old Scottish ladies of 
the former generation. Their originality, their 
peculiar mental development, and social habits, are 
well described by Lord Cockburn in his memoirs. 
Indeed^ the portion allotted to them is perhaps the 
most striking and the most powerful of his book. 
He describes a phase of character now all but 
extinct. A renewed mention of them properly 
comes under this head^ because no doubt the pecu- 
liarity of their character was closely allied with 
their peculiarity of language, 

A great confusion existed in the mind of some 
of those old-fashioned ladies on the subject of 



Scottish Life ^ Character. 79 

modern inventions and usages. A Montrose old 
lady protested against the use of steam vessels, as 
counteracting the decrees of Providence in going 
against wind and tide, vehemently asserting, '^ I 
would hae naething to say to thae impious vessels." 
Another lady was equally discomposed by the 
introduction of gas, asking with much earnestness^ 
'^What's to become o' the puir whales ?" deeming 
their interests materially affected by this superseding 
of their oil. A lady of this class^ who had long lived 
in country retirement, coming up to Edinburgh, was, 
after an absence of many years, going along Princes 
Street about the time when the water carts were 
introduced for preventing the dust, and seeing one 
of them passing, rushed from off the pavement to 
the driver, saying, '' Man, ye 're skailing a' the water." 
Such being her ignorance of modern improvements. 
There is a point and originality in the expres- 
sions on common matters of the old Scottish ladies, 
unlike what one finds now ; for example, a country 
minister had been invited, with his wife, to dine 
and spend the night at the house of one of his lairds. 
Their host was very proud of one of the very large 
beds which had just come into fashion, and in the 
morning asked the lady how she had slept in it. 
^^ O vary weel, sir ; but, indeed, I thought Td lost 
the minister a thegither." 



8o Reminiscences of 

Nothing, however, in my opinion comes up to 
the originality and point of the Montrose old maiden 
lady's most '^ exquisite reason" for not subscribing to 
the proposed fund for organizing a volunteer corps 
in that town. It was at the time of expected 
invasion at the beginning of the century, and some 
of the town magistrates called upon her and solicited 
her subscription to raise men for the service of the 
king — ^^ Indeed," she answered right sturdily^ "I'll 
doe nae sic thing ; I never could raise a man for 
myself and I'm no gaen to raise men for King 
George." 

Some curious stories are told of ladies of this 
class, as connected with the novelties and excitement 
of railway travelling. Missing their luggage, or 
finding that something has gone wrong about it, 
often causes very terrible distress, and might be 
amusing^ were it not to the sufferer so severe a 
calamity. I was much entertained with the earnest- 
ness of this feeling, and the expression of it from an 
old Scotch lady, whose box was not forthcoming at 
the station where she was to stop. When urged to 
be patient, her indignant exclamation was, ^^I can 
bear ony pairtings that may be ca'ed for in God's 
Providence; but I canna stan' pairting frae ma claes." 

The following anecdote from the west^ exhibits 
a curious confusion of ideas arising from the old* 



Scottish Life i£ Character. 8i 

fashioned prejudice against Frenchmen and their 
language^ which existed in the last generation. 
During the long French war, two old ladies in 
Stranraer were going to the kirk^ the one said to 
the other, ^^ Was it no a wonderful thing that the 
Breetish were aye victorious over the French in 
battle." '' Not a bit," said the other old lady, 
" dinna ye ken the Breetish aye say their prayers 
before ga'in into battle." The other replied^ *' But 
canna the French say their prayers as weel." The 
reply was most characteristic, '^ Hoot ! jabbering 
bodies, wha could under stati them." 

Of old ladies of this class, much has been said 
of Miss Johnstone, of whom the anecdote at p. 76 
is recorded, and whom persons still alive remember. 
She was remarkable for the freedom of her expres- 
sions on religious subjects, and for her plain-spoken 
honesty, which scorned to express any sentiments she 
did not feel. Of this she gave a striking proof in 
her answer to her niece, Mrs. Wauchope of Niddrie. 
Poor Mrs. Wauchope, when very ill, sent for 
" Aunt Soph," and said to her, '^ Soph, I believe I 
am dying, will you always be kind to my children 
when I am gone." " Na, na ; tak y'r spoilt deevils 
wi' ye," was the reply, " for I'll hae naething ado 
wi' them." Having introduced the mention of this 

G 



S% Reminiscences of 

lady, I would add some further particulars which 
have been recorded of her. 

Of all the eccentric and original Scottish old ladies 
of whom any one of the present generation has any 
reminiscences^ whether maids or matrons, I suppose 
none was more eccentric or more original than 
Miss Sophia Johnstone of Hilton, usually known to 
her cotemporaries by the name of Soph Johnstone. 
Her natural turn for oddity was heightened by her 
strange bringing up. Her father, Mr. Johnstone of 
Hilton^ for some strange whim in which he was 
seconded by Mrs. Johnstone, gave her no education 
whatever. She is thus described by Lord Cock- 
burn in the Memorials of his Time : *' Possessed 
of great natural vigour of mind, she passed her 
youth in utter rusticity ; in the course of which, 
however, she made herself a good carpenter and a 
good smith, arts which she practised occasionally, 
even to the shoeing of a horse, I believe, till after 
the middle of her life. It was not till after she 
became a woman, that she taught herself to read 
and write ; and then she read incessantly. She 
must have been about sixty before I ever saw her, 
which was chiefly, and often at Niddrie. Her 
dress was always the same — a man's hat when out 
of doors, and generally when within them, a cloth 
covering exactly like a man's great-coat, buttoned 



Scottish Life £5? Character. 83 

closely from the chin to the ground, worsted stock- 
ings, strong shoes with large brass clasps. And 
in this raiment she sat in any drawing-room, and at 
any table, amidst all the fashion and aristocracy of 
the land, respected and liked. For her dispositions 
were excellent, her talk intelligent and racy, rich, 
both in old anecdote, and in shrewd modern obser- 
vation, and spiced with a good deal of plain sarcasm ; 
her understanding powerful ; all her opinions free, 
and very freely expressed \ and neither loneliness, 
nor very slender means, ever brought sourness or 
melancholy to her face or her heart." 

Soph was grand-aunt to Mrs. Spottiswoode of 
Spottiswoode^ and many stories of their eccentric 
relative are traditionary in the family. I am afraid 
her strange way of bringing up was not favourable 
to her religious opinions. Lady Anne Barnard 
affirms that she lived and died an unbeliever. This 
is saying too much. She was (as in everything 
else) eccentric in her religious opinions, and much 
given to dispute with clergymen who undertook to 
reason with her. I could not properly record here 
some of her wildest theological statements, though 
with her^ as with many others of her cotemporaries, 
it is difficult to form a fair judgment of their opinions 
from their mere expression, which must not be 
taken quite literally. There is no doubt truth, to a 



84 Reminiscences of 

certain extent, in Lord Cockburn's apology for those 
originals, and we must estimate their characters 
accordingly. 

'' It is remarkable/' he writes, ^' that, though 
all these female nestors were not merely decorous in 
matters of religion, but really pious, they would all 
have been deemed irreligious now. Gay-hearted, 
and utterly devoid of every tincture of fanaticism, the 
very freedom and cheerfulness of their conversation 
and views on sacred subjects would have excited the 
horror of those who give the tone on these matters 
at present. So various are the opinions of what 
constitutes religiousness." 

We have a further description of Soph Johnstone 
from the pen of Lady Anne Barnard, one of the 
Balcarres family. It is in Lord Lindsay's lives of 
the Lindsays, vol. ii., page 318. 

^^ I scarce think that any system of education 
could have made this woman one of the fair sex. 
Nature seemed to have entered into the jest, and 
hesitated to the last whether to make her a boy or 
a girl. Her taste led her to hunt with her brothers, 
to wrestle with the stable boys, and to saw wood 
with the carpenter. She worked well in iron ; 
could shoe a horse quicker than the smith ; made 
excellent trunks ; played well on the fiddle ; sung 
a mans song in a bass voice, and was by many 



Scottish Life £5? Character. 85 

people suspected of being one. She learnt to write 
of the butler at her own request, and had a taste 
for readings which she greatly improved. She was 
a droll ingenious fellow ; her talents for mimicry 
made her enemies, and the violence of her attach- 
ments to those she called her favourites, secured her 
a few warm friends. She came to spend a few 
months with my mother soon after her marriage, 
and, at the time I am speaking of, had been with 
her thirteen years, making Balcarres her head- 
quarters, devoting herself to the youngest child, 
whichever it was, deserting him when he got into 
breeches, and regularly constant to no one but me. 
She had a little forge fitted up in her closet, to 
which I was very often invited." 

A relation of Soph Johnstone has sent me a 
curious account of a theological argument which she 
had held with the celebrated Dr. Hugh Blair. The 
Doctor, shocked to find her mind in such an unsettled 
state on some fundamental points of theology, had 
dwelt at some length upon the great facts connected 
with the primaeval condition and the fall. Soph 
heard it all with much gravity, and then coolly re- 
plied, '^ Weel, weel. Doctor, it wud hae been sma' 
pleasure to me to rin about naked in a garden, 
eating green apples." 

Amongst all the old ladies in Scotland whom I 



86 Reminiscences of 

have ever known, one of the most remarkable was 
Lady Clerk^ widow of Sir John Clerk of Penicuik. 
She was a native of the north of England_, but had been 
so long identified with Scotland and its social habits, 
that she may well be considered as one of our 
Scottish reminiscences. When I first came to reside 
in Edinburgh, 36 years ago, Mary Lady Clerk was 
known by every one as an original, whose sayings 
and doings were constantly quoted in society. She 
lived in Princes Street, and her figure, as she used 
to walk about, was as familiar to many of the 
inhabitants as the steeple of St. Giles. Lady Clerk 
was born in Newcastle in 1745. She was a baby 
in the cradle when Prince Charles Edward passed 
through that town. As her father, a Mr. Dacre, 
was an adherent of the Jacobite cause, the Prince was 
entertained at Mr. Dacre's house, and on leaving it^ 
on his way south^ he pinned with his own hand^ one 
of his favours on the child's cradle, which gave Lady 
Clerk through life a strong feeling in favour of the 
Stuart family. She kept the favour which had so 
early been attached to her bed with great care, and 
in 1822 presented it to the king (George IV.) on 
his visit to Scotland, and it was very kindly and 
graciously received by him. The late Lord Stowel 
(William Scott) was also a native of Newcastle, and 
in their boyish and girlish days, an attachment 



Scottish Life £5? Character. 87 

sprung up between Miss Dacre and himself. The 
entire want of means precluded for the time all hope 
of marriage. But some years afterwards, when 
Scott had entered upon that legal profession, of 
which he was destined to become so distinguished 
an ornament^ and when he saw the probability of 
his success, he wrote to his first love a brief offer 
of his hand, beginning, ^^ Dear Molly Dacre," and 
signing himself ^' Willie Scott." Lady Clerk re- 
peated to me her answer — '' Dear Willie Scott, I 
should have been glad to be your wife, but on 
Tuesday next I am to be married to Captain John 
Clerk, and am your affectionate Molly Dacre." 
Lady Clerk kept up a constant intercourse with the 
two eminent brothers, John Scott the Chancellor^ 
and William, the Judge of the Ecclesiastical and 
Admiralty courts. She shewed me once a highly 
characteristic letter from Lord Eldon. At the time of 
passing what was usually called the Catholic Relief 
Bill^ Lady Clerk wrote to Lord Eldon congratulating 
him upon the energetic stand he had made to pre- 
vent the bill becoming law. His answer was laconic, 
and nearly thus — '' Dear Molly Dacre, I am happy 
to find you approve of my endeavours to oppose the 
Catholic Relief Bill. I have done what I thought 
my duty. May God forgive me if I have done 
wrong, and may God forgive my opponents {jf he 



88 Reminiscences y etc. 

can). Yours affectionately, Eldon." The parenthesis 
is exquisite. What paragraph could have expressed 
half so much ? This Lady Clerk formed a direct 
and intermediate link between Jacobite times and 
my own. She knew that I was very intimate with 
Miss Susan Buchanan^ whose maternal great grand- 
father, Sir Archibald Primrose (of the Rosebery 
family)^ suffered at Carlisle in the Stuart cause. 
She told me she had made Miss B. very angry by 
telling her, " Miss Buchanan, you should be much 
obliged to my family. My father picked up your 
grandfather's head when the boys were kicking it 
about the streets of Carlisle^ and decently buried it." 
The head had been aiffixed after his execution to the 
gateway, and had fallen down into the street. 




CHAPTER V. 

On Scottish Stories of Wit and Humour. 

E now come to the last division of our sub- 
ject, viz., that which we have entitled 
"Scottish stories of wit and humour." 
The anecdotes under this head as I have before 
observed^ may not often be essentially different from 
the stories of the former section. What I wish to 
keep in view is, to distinguish anecdotes which are 
amusing on account merely of the expressions used, 
from those which have real wit and humour com- 
blnedy with the purely Scottish vehicle in which they 
are conveyed. 

Of this class I could not have a better specimen 
to commence with, than the defence of the liturgy 
of his church, by John Skinner of Langside, see pages 
209, 210. It is witty and clever. 

Being present at a party [I think at Lord For- 
bes's], where were also several ministers of the 
Establishment, the conversation over their wine 



90 Reminiscences of 

turned, among other things^ on the prayer-book. 
Skinner took no part in it^ till one minister remarked 
to him, '^ the great faut I hae to your prayer-book 
is, that ye use the Lord's Prayer sae aften^ — ye juist 
mak a dishclout o't." 

Skinner's rejoinder was, ^^ Verra true ! '^ Ay, 
man, we mak a dishclout o't, an we wring 't, an 
we wring 't, an we wring 't, an the bree o't washes 
a' the lave o' our prayers." 

No one, I think, could deny the wit of the two 
following rejoinders. 

A ruling elder of a country parish in the west 
of Scotland was well known in the district as a 
shrewd and ready-witted man. He got many a 
visit by persons who liked a banter, or to hear a 
good joke. Three young students gave him a call 
in order to have a little amusement at the elder's 
expense. On approaching him, one of them saluted 
him^ *' Well, Father Abraham^ how are you to day? " 
" You are wrong/' said the other^ " this is old Father 
Isaac •, " '' Tuts," said the third, ^' you are both mis- 
taken ; this is old Father Jacob." David looked 
at the young men, and in his own way replied^ ^^ I 
am neither old Father Abraham, nor old Father 
Isaac, nor old Father Jacob, but I am Saul, the son 
of Kish, seeking his father's asses, and lo ! I've 
found three o' them." 



Scottish Life &" Character. 91 

For many years the Baptist community of Dun- 
fermline was presided over by brothers David Dewar 
and James Inglis, the latter of whom has just recently 
gone to his reward. Brother David was a plain, 
honest, straightforward man, who never hesitated to 
express his convictions^ however unpalatable they 
might be to others. Being elected a member of the 
Prison Board^ he was called upon to give his vote 
in the choice of a chaplain from the licentiates of 
the Established Kirk. The party who had gained 
the confidence of the Board had proved rather an 
indifferent preacher in a charge to which he had 
previously been appointed \ and on David being 
asked to signify his assent to the choice of the 
Board, he said^ '^ Weel^ I've no objections to the 
man, for I understand he has preached a kirk toom 
(empty) already, and if he be as successful in the 
jail, he'll maybe preach it vawcant as week" 

From Mr. Inglis, clerk of the Court of Session^ 
I have the following Scottish rejoinder : — 

'^ I recollect my father giving a conversation 
between a Perthshire laird and one of his tenants. 
The laird's eldest son was rather a simpleton. 
Laird says^ ^^ I am going to send the young 
laird abroad." ^^ What for ? " asks the tenant; 
answered — '* To see the world;" tenant replies, 
'^But lordsake, Laird, will no the world see him?''' 



92 Reminiscences of 

An admirably humorous reply is recorded of 
a Scotch officer, well known and esteemed in his 
day for mirth and humour. Captain Innes of the 
Guards (usually called Jock Innes by his cotem- 
poraries) was with others getting ready for Flushing 
or some of those expeditions of the beginning of the 
great war. His commanding officer (Lord Huntly, 
my correspondent thinks) remonstrated about the 
badness of his hat, and recommended a new one, 
— ^^ Na ! na ! bide a wee," said Jock \ '' whare 
we're ga'in', faith there'll soon be mair hats nor 
heads J^"^ 

There is an odd and original way of putting a 
matter sometimes in Scotch people, which is irresis- 
tibly comic, although by the persons nothing comic 
is intended, as for example, when in 1786 Edinburgh 
was illuminated on account of the recovery of 
George III. from severe illness — in a house where 
great preparation was going on for the occasion, by 
getting the candles fixed in tin sconces, an old nurse 
of the family looking on, exclaimed, ^^ Aye, it's a 
braw time for the cannel makers when the king is 
sick, honest man ! " 

Scotch gamekeepers had often much dry quiet 
humour — I was much amused by the answer of one 
of those under the following circumstances : — An 
Ayrshire gentleman, who was from the first a very 



Scottish Life & Character. 93 

bad shot, or rather no shot at all, when out on 
I St of September, having failed, time after time, in 
bringing down a single bird, had at last pointed out 
to him by his attendant bag-carrier a large covey, 
thick and close on the stubbles. '^ Noo ! Mr. 
Jeems, let drive at them^ just as they are ! " Mr. 
Jeems did let drive, as advised^ but not a feather 
remained to testify the shot. All flew off, safe and 
sound — '' Hech, sir (remarks his friend), but ye've 
made thae yins shift their quarters." 

The two following anecdotes of rejoinders 
from Scottish gudewives^ and for which I am in- 
debted, as for many other kind communications, to 
the Rev. Mr. Blair of Dunblane, appear to me as 
good examples of the peculiar Scottish pithy phraseo- 
logy which we now refer to, as any that I have 
met with. 

An old lady who lived not far from Abbots- 
ford, and from whom the ^^ Great Unknown" had 
derived many an ancient tale, was waited upon one 
day by the author of ^^Waverley." On endea- 
vouring to give the authorship the go-by, the old 
dame protested, ^^ D'ye think. Sir, I dinna ken my 
ain groats in ither folk's kail ?" 

A conceited packman called at a farm-house in 
the west of Scotland, in order to dispose of some 
of his wares. The goodwife was startled by his 



94 Reminiscences of 

southern accent, and his high talk about York, 
London, and other big places. ^^ An' whaur come 
ye frae yersel ?" was the question of the good wife. 
^^Oh! I am from the Border!" ^^ The Border. 
Oh ! I thocht that ; for we aye think the selvidge is 
the wakest bit o' the wab !" 

Persons who are curious in Scottish stories of 
wit and humour, speak much of the sayings of a 
certain '' Laird of Logan^" who was a well-known 
character of the west of Scotland. This same 
laird of I^ogan was at a meeting of the heritors of 
Cumnock, where a proposal was made to erect a 
new churchyard wall. He met the proposition 
with the dry remark, ^^ I never big dykes till the 
tenants complain." 

The laird sold a horse to an Englishman, saying, 
" You buy him as you see him ; but he's an honest 
beast." The purchaser took him home. In a few 
days he stumbled and fell, to the damage of his 
own knees and his rider's head. On this the 
angry purchaser remonstrated with the laird, whose 
reply was, '^ Well, Sir, I told you he was an honest 
beast : many a time has he threatened to come down 
with me^ and I kenned he would keep his word 
some day." 

At the time of the threatened invasion, the laird 
had been taunted at a meeting at Ayr with want of 



Scottish Life £5? Character. 95 

a loyal spirit at Cumnock^ as at that place no 
volunteer corps had been raised to meet the coming 
danger; Cumnock, it should be recollected, being 
on a high situation, and ten or twelve miles from 
the coast. ^^ What sort of people are you, up at 
Cumnock ? " said an Ayr gentleman ; " you have not 
a single volunteer ! " " Never you heed^" says 
Logan^ very quietly ; '' if the French land at Ayr, 
there will soon be plenty of volunteers up at Cum- 
nock." 

I have already had recourse to the Scottish bar 
for a sample of Scottish wit and humour, p. 108. 
It is a wide field, and I pretend to no more than 
gathering a specimen here and there. 

John Clerk's translation of the motto of the 
Celtic Club is capital, and may rank with the trans- 
lations given at pages 63 and 64. "' Olim marte 
nunc arte;" ^^ Formerly rubbers^ noo thieves." 
(N.B. — He had a strong hatred of the race.) 
Very dry and pithy too was his legal opinion 
given to a claimant of the Annandale peerage, who, 
when pressing the employment of some obvious 
forgeries, was warned, that if he persevered, nae 
doot he might be a peer, but it would be a peer o' 
anither tree ! 

Harry Erskine's best things have unfortunately 
been murdered in the jest books. I do not think 



96 Reminiscences of 

his neat remark to Walter Scott after he got his 
Clerkship of Session has been in print. The 
scheme to bestow it on him had been begun by the 
Tories, but (most honourably) was completed by 
the "Whigs, and after the fall of the latter, Harry 
met the new Clerk, and congratulated him on his 
appointment^ which he liked all the better, as it was 
a " Lay of the Last Ministry !" 

The following is an exquisite application of Lord 
Polkemmet's pet phrase given at page 108. My 
correspondent heard the phrase repeated, and heard 
it prefaced by a statement to this effect : ^ — ^^ Weel^ 
Maister Askine, I heard you, and I thocht ye were 
richt ; and I heard you, Dauvid (David Cathcart), 
and I thocht ye were richt ; and now I hae heard 
Maister Clerk, and I think he is the richtest amang 
ye. That bathers me, ye see; sae I maun tak hame 
the process, and wamble it in my wame a wee, and 
syne ye'se hae an Interlocutor." 

The following story introduces a characteristic 
account of John Clerk, p. 109. 

Two individuals, the one a mason, the other, a 
joiner or carpenter, both residenters in West Ports- 

I I refer to the octogenarian author of " The Two 
Cosmos" — A Tale of Fifty Years Ago — a work which 
must be highly interesting to every Scotchman for its power- 
ful and graphic delineation of Scottish life and character. 



Scottish Life 6? Character. 97 

burgh, formed a copartnery, and commenced build- 
ing houses within the boundaries of the burgh 
corporation. One of the partners was a freeman, 
the other not. The corporation, considering its 
rights invaded by a non-freeman exercising privi- 
leges only accorded to one of their body, brought 
an action in the Court of Session against the inter- 
loper^ and his partner^ as aiding and abetting. Mr. 
John Clerk, then an advocate, was engaged for the 
defendants. How the cause was decided matters 
little. What was really curious in the aiFair, was 
the naively droll manner in which the advocate for 
the defence opened his pleading before the Lord 
Ordinary. " My lord," commenced John, in his 
purest Doric, at the same time pushing up his 
spectacles to his brow, and hitching his gown over 
his shoulders, '^ I wad hae thocht naething o't (the 
action), had hooses been a new invention, and my 
clients been caught ouvertly impingin' on the patent 
richts o' the inventors ! " 

" 'Tis sixty years since" the Rev. Mr. M'Cubbin, 
minister of the parish of Douglas, a well-known 
wit in his day, stepping into the house of the then 
carrier between Edinburgh and Douglas, inquired, 
^^ What news the day ? " '' O, nane ava^ sir," was 
the response, '^ only the packman was here yester- 
day, and had a loud and lang argument about the 

H 



98 Reminiscences of 

preaching of Judas with the tollman, your elder. 
The packman mainteened that as Judas was a hypo- 
crite, he could have made no converts, but your 
elder thought that though Judas was a hypocrite, 
he might, for a' that^ have had some converts. At 
length the packman went away^ thinking that he had 
waur't your elder." The reverend gentleman was 
about to walk away too, without note or comment, 
when he was arrested by the question of the carrier, 
'' Ah, but, Mr. M'Cubbin, what think ye ? " The 
reverend wit, turning round, merely said, " Ou, 
the wares might be guid enough, though the deil 
gat the packman y 

A pendant to the story of candid admission on 
the part of the minister, that the people might be 
weary after his sermon, has been given on the 
authority of the narrator, a Fife gentleman, ninety 
years of age when he told it. He had been to 
church at Elie, and listening to a young and 
perhaps bombastic preacher, who happened to be 
officiating for the Rev. Dr. Milligan, who was in 
church. After service, meeting the Doctor in the 
passage, he introduced the young clergyman, who, 
on being asked by the old man how he did, elevated 
his shirt collar, and complained of fatigue, and 
being very much ^' tiredr ^' Tired, did ye say, 
my man," said the old satirist, who was slightly 



Scottish Life ^ Character. 99 

deaf^ ^' Lord^ man ! if youVe half as tired as I am 
I pity ye." 

I have been much pleased with an offering from 
Carluke, containing two very pithy anecdotes. Mr. 
Rankin very kindly writes : — '' Your ' Remini- 
scences ' are most refreshing. I am very little of a 
story collector, but I have recorded some of an old 
schoolmaster, who was a story teller. As a sort 
of payment for the amusement I have derived from 
your book I shall give one or two." 

He sends the two following : — 

'' Shortly after Mr. Kay had been inducted 
schoolmaster of Carluke (1790), the bedrel called 
at the school, verbally announcing, proclamation- 
ways, that Mrs. So-and-So's funeral would be on 
Fuirsday. ' At what hour,' asked the dominie. 
^ Ou, ony time atween ten and twa.' At two 
o'clock of the day fixed, Mr. K. — quite a stranger 
to the customs of the district — arrived at the place, 
and was astonished to find a crowd of men and 
lads, standing here and there, some smoking^ and 
all arglebarglifig^^ as if at the end of a fair. He was 
instantly^ but mysteriously^ approached, and touched 
on the arm by a red-faced bare-headed man, who 
seemed to be in authority, and was beckoned to 
follow. On entering the barn^ which was seated 
^ Disputing or bandying words backwards and forwards. 



lOO Reminiscences of 

all round, he found numbers sittings each with the 
head bent down, and each with his hat between 
his knees — all gravity and silence. Anon a voice 
was heard issuing from the far end, and a long 
prayer was uttered. They had worked at this — 
what was called ' a service ^ — during three previous 
hours, one party succeeding another, and many 
taking advantage of every service, which consisted 
of a prayer by way of grace^ a glass of ivhlte wine, 
a glass of red wine, a glass of rurn^ and a prayer 
by way of thanksgiving. After the long invocation, 
bread and wine passed round. Silence prevailed. 
Most partook of both roimds of wine, but when the 
rum came^ many nodded refusal, and by-and-by 
the nodding seemed to be universal, and the trays 
passed on so much the more quickly. A sumphish 
weather-beaten man, with a large flat blue bonnet 
on his knee, who had nodded unwittingly, and was 
about to lose the last chance of a glass of rum^ 
raised his head, saying, amid the deep silence, ' Od 
I daursay I ivull tak anither gless,' and in a sort of 
vengeful, yet apologetic tone, added, ' the auld jaud 
yance cheeted me wi' a cauve ' (calf)." 

'^ Dr. Scott, minister of Carluke (1770), was a 
fine graceful kindly man, always stepping about in 
his bag wig and cane in hand, with a kind or ready 
word to every one. He was officiating at a bridal 



Scottish Life G? Character. loi 

in his parish, where there was a goodly company, 
had partaken of the good cheer, and waited till the 
young people were fairly warmed in the dance. A 
dissenting body had sprung up in the parish, which 
he tried to think was beneath him even to notice 
when he could help it, yet never seemed to feel at 
all keenly when the dissenters were alluded to. 
One of the chief leaders of this body was at the 
bridal, and felt it to be his bounden duty to call 
upon the minister for his reasons for sanctioning by 
his presence so sinful an enjoyment. ' Weel, 
minister, what think ye o' this dancing ? ' ^ Why^ 
John,' said the minister, blithely, ' I think it an 
excellent exercise for young people, and, I dare say, 
so do you.' * Ah, sir, I'm no sure about it ; I see 
nae authority for't in the Scriptures.' ' Umph, 
indeed, John ; you cannot forget David.' ' Ah, 
sir, Dauvid ; gif they were a' to dance as Dauvid 
did, it would be a different thing a-the-gither.' 
' Hoot o fie, hoot o fie, John ; would you have the 
young folk strip to the serk ! ' " 

At pages 153-55, 1 have referred to the eccentric 
laird of Balnamoon, his wig, and his '' speats o' 
drinking and praying." A story of this laird is 
recorded, which I do think is well named, by a 
correspondent who communicates it, as a '' quint- 
essential phasis of dry Scotch humour," and the 



I02 Reminiscences of 

explanation of which would perhaps be thrown 
away upon any one who needed the explanation. 
The story is this : — The laird^ riding past a high 
steep bank, stopped opposite a hole in it, and said^ 
'' John^ I saw a brock gang in there." '' Did ye," 
said John; *' wull ye haud my horse, sir?" 
" Certainly," said the laird, and away rushed John 
for a spade. After digging for half an hour, he 
came back, nigh speechless, to the laird, who had 
regarded him musingly. " I canna find him, sir," 
said John. *' Deed," said the laird, very coolly, 
^* I wad ha' wondered if ye had, for it's ten years 
sin' I saw him gang in there." 

Amongst many humorous colloquies between 
Balnamoon and his servant, the following must have 
been very racy and very original. The laird, 
accompanied by Hairy, after a dinner party, was 
riding, on his way home, through a ford^ when he 
fell off into the water. ^^ Whae's that fau'n, 
John ? " he inquired. ^' Deed," quoth John, *' I 
wit na an it be na your honour." 

We have more than once had occasion to 
mention the late Rev. Walter Dunlop of the U. P. 
Church, Dumfries. To a kind clerical corres- 
pondent in that neighbourhood, I am indebted 
for the following. He was very much esteemed 
by his congregation as a faithful and affectionate 



Scottish Life 6? Character. 103 

minister. Few men equalled him for racy humour 
and originality. Many anecdotes are recorded of 
him in connection with his ministerial visitations. 
He was firmly persuaded that the workman was 
worthy of his meat, and he did not hesitate occa- 
sionally to intimate how agreeable certain ^^/r^j'^;^/j" 
would be to him and his better half. He was 
widely respected by all denominations, and his 
death was greatly lamented. 

One evening, while making his pastoral visita- 
tions among some of the country members of his 
flock, he came to a farm house where he was 
expected ; and the mistress, thinking that he would 
be in need of refreshment, proposed that he should 
take his tea before engaging in exercises^ and said 
she would soon have it ready. Mr. Dunlop re- 
plied, ^^I aye tak' my tea better when my wark's 
dune. I'll just be gaun on. Ye can hing the 
pan on, an' lea' the door ajar, an' I'll draw to a 
close in the prayer when I hear the haam fizzin'.'.' 

Another day, while engaged in the same duty 
of visitation, and while offering up prayer, a pecu- 
liar sound was heard to issue from his great-coat 
pocket, which was afterwards discovered to have 
proceeded from a half-choked duck, which he 
"had gotten in a present^'' and whose neck he had 
been squeezing all the time to prevent its crying. 



I04 Reminiscences of 

On another occasion, after a hard day's labour, 
and while at a '^ denner tea^" as he called it, he 
kept incessantly praising the '' haam," and stating 
that ^'Mrs. Dunlop at hame was as fond o' haam 
like that as he was," when the mistress kindly 
offered to send her the present of a ham. ^'It's 
unco kin' o' ye, unco kin', but I'll no pit ye to the 
trouble; I'll just tak' it hame on the horse afore 
me." When, on leaving, he mounted, and the 
ham was put into a sack, but some difficulty 
was experienced in getting it to lie properly. His 
inventive genius soon cut the Gordian-knot. " I 
think, mistress, a cheese in the ither en' wad mak' 
a gran' balance." The hint was immediately acted 
on, and, like another John Gilpin, he moved away 
with his ^^ balance true." 

One day, returning from a short visit to the 
country, he met two ladies in Buccleuch Street, 
who stopped him to enquire after his v/elfare, and 
that of his wife. Lifting his hat politely, to the 
consternation of all three, out tumbled to his feet 
his handkerchief, followed by a large lump of 
potted-head, which he had received in a ^^ pre- 
sent," and was thus carrying h^Tie, but which, at 
the moment, he had entirely forgotten. 

One Sunday, after sermon, just before pro- 
nouncing the blessing, he made the following inti- 



Scottish Life ^ Character. 105 

matiori, '^ My freens, I hae a baaptism at Lochar- 
briggs the nicht^ an' maybe some o' ye wad be 
sae kin' as to gie me a cast oot in a dandy-cart." 
On descending from the pulpit, several vehicles of 
the description were placed at his service. 

He would not allow any of his congregation 
to sleep in church, if his eye caught them. One 
day he suddenly stopped in his sermon, and said, 
'^ I doot some o' ye hae taen owre mony whey 
porridge the day : sit up, or I'll name ye oot." 

Some four-and-twenty years ago, when Mr. 
Dunlop lost his excellent and amiable wife, to whom 
it was well known he was strongly attached. Dr. 
Wightman, parish minister of Kirkmahoe, in the 
immediate neighbourhood of Dumfries, then upwards 
of seventy years of age and a bachelor, was invited 
to the funeral. On entering the house, he was 
surprised to' observe that Mr. Dunlop, now a 
widower for a second time, did not appear to be 
so much affected as he would have expected, and, 
indeed, seemed wonderfully composed and cheerful. 
His peculiar humour could not be repressed even 
on this occasion, for he said, -^ Come awa'. Dr. 
Wightman, come., awa', it will be lang to the day 
when ye hae ony thing of this kind to do." 

At pages 256 and 257, examples are given of 
national feeling breaking out in national humour 



io6 Reminiscences of 

upon great events connected with our national 
history. The following is^ perhaps^ as good as 
any : — the Rev. Robert Scott, a Scotchman who 
forgets not Scotland in his southern vicarage, and 
whom I have named before as having sent me 
some good reminiscences, tells me that, at Inverary, 
some thirty years ago, he could not help over- 
hearing the conversation of some Lowland cattle 
dealers in the public room in which he was. The 
subject of the bravery of our navy being started^ 
one of the interlocutors expressed his surprise that 
Nelson should have issued his signal at Trafalgar 
in the terms, ^'England expects^'''' etc. He was 
met with the answer (which seemed highly satis- 
factory to the rest)^ ^^ Ay, Nelson only said ' expects* 
of the English ; he said naething of Scotland, for 
he kent the Scotch would do theirs." 

I am assured the following manifestation of 
national feeling against the memory of a Scottish 
public character actually took place within a few 
years: — Williamson (the Duke of Buccleuch's hunts- 
man) was one afternoon riding home from hunting 
through Haddington ; and as he passed the old 
abbey, he saw an ancient woman looking through 
the iron grating in front of the burial place of the 
Lauderdale family, holding by the bars, and grinning 
and dancing with rage. '' Eh^ gudewife," said 



Scottish Life 6? Character. 1 07 

Williamson, ^^ what ails ye?" ^^It's the Duke o' 
Lauderdale," cried she. ^^ Eh^ if I could win at 
him, I wud rax the banes o' him." 

To this class belongs the following complacent 
Scottish remark upon Bannockburn. A splenetic 
Englishman said to a Scottish countryman, some- 
thing of a wag, that no man of taste would think 
of remaining any time in such a country as Scotland. 
To which the canny Scot replied^ '^ Tastes differ; 
Tse tak' ye to a place, no far frae Stirling, whaur 
thretty thousand o' yer countrymen ha' been for 
five hundred years, an' they've nae thocht o' leavin' 
yet." 

A north-country drover had, however, a more 
tangible opportunity of gratifying his national ani- 
mosity against the southern, and of which he availed 
himself. Returning homewards, after a somewhat 
unsuccessful journey, and not in very good humour 
with the Englishers, when passing through Carlisle^ 
he saw a notice stuck up, offering a reward of ^^50 
for any one who would do a piece of service to the 
community, by officiating as executioner of the law 
on a noted criminal then under sentence of death. 
Seeing a chance to make up for his bad market, 
and comforted with the assurance that he was 
unknown there, he undertook the office, hanged 
the rogue, and got the fee. When moving off 



io8 Reminiscences of 

with the money, he was twitted as a mean beggarly 
Scot^ doing for money what no Englishman would^ 
he replied with a grin and quiet glee, ^^ 111 hang ye 
a' at the price." 

A very amusing account of a minister meeting, 
and by wit and good humour overcoming, the strict 
opinions of his people in regard to their disapproval 
of his worldly pursuits and accomplishments, has 
been given to me from Aberdeenshire. The late 
Mr. Greig, minister at Chapel of Garioch^ near Logie, 
was very musical, and played very well on the 
violoncello, particularly Scotch music. He was in 
the habit of spending his evenings at dijfFerent 
houses, taking his instrument with him. He was 
very often at Logie, and played to Mrs. Leslie's 
piano. His parishioners began to think all this 
was wrong, and a deputation was sent to remon- 
strate with him, and get some promise that these 
musical evenings should be discontinued. Mr. 
Greig received them very kindly, played them some 
tunes on his violoncello, gave them some whisky 
toddy, and they came away, without having been 
able to come to any understanding on the object of 
their visit. They thought this would never do, as 
they did not know what to say to those that sent 
them. So after they had left the manse, one of 
their number was sent back to re-open the subject. 



Scottish Life £s? Character. 109 

the rest waiting on the roadside. Again the re- 
monstrant was well received, more tunes, more 
toddy, and he returned to his companions never 
having got at the matter of complaint, but candidly 
acknowledged his own views, ^^ I have made up 
my ain mind that yon big fiddle is a most respect- 
able thing, not like the little sinfu fiddlies that they 
play at dancing parties," and so they rested satisfied, 
and the good minister was allowed to play his big 
fiddle without further molestation or remonstrance. 
I have referred frequently in these pages to 
Scottish funerals and to Scottish idiots. But there 
was a frequent combination of the two subjects, 
which seems of late years to have passed away. In 
many country places, hardly a funeral ever took 
place without the attendance of the parochial idiot. 
It seemed almost a necessary association ; and such 
attendance seemed to constitute the great delight of 
those creatures. I have myself witnessed again and 
again the sort of funeral scene portrayed by Walter 
Scott, who no doubt took his description from what 
was common in his day. " The funeral pomp set 
forth — saulies with their batons and gumphions of 
tarnished white crape. Six starved horses, them- 
selves the very emblems of mortality, well cloked 
and plumed, lugging along the hearse with its dismal 
emblazonry, crept in slow pace towards the place 



1 1 o Reminiscences of 

of interment^ preceded by Jamie DufF, an idiot, who, 
with weepers and cravat made of white paper, 
attended on every funeral ^ and followed by six mourn- 
ing coaches filled with the company."- — Guy Man- 
nering. 

The withdrawal of these characters from public 
view, and the loss of importance which they once 
enjoyed in Scottish society, seem to me inexplicable. 
Have they ceased to exist^ or are they removed 
from our sight to different scenes ? The fool was, 
in early times, a very important personage in most 
Scottish households of any distinction. Indeed, 
this had been so common as to be a public nuisance. 

It seems that persons assumed the character^ for 
we find a Scottish Act of Parliament, dated 19th 
January 1449, with this title : — '' Act for the 
way-putting of Fenyent Fules," etc. (Thomson's 
Acts of Parliament of Scotland^ vol. i.) •, and it 
enacts very stringent measures against such persons. 
They seem to have formed a link between the 
helpless idiot and the boisterous madman^ sharing 
the eccentricity of the latter and the stupidity of the 
former^ generally adding, however^ a good deal of 
the sharp-wittedness of the knave. Up to the 
middle of the eighteenth century, this appears to 
have been still an appendage to some families. I 
have before me a little publication with the title, 



Scottish Life (Cs? Character. 1 1 1 

^^ The Life and Death of Jamie Fleeman, the Laird 
of Udny's Fool. Tenth edition. Aberdeen, 1797. 
With Portrait. Also twenty-sixth edition, of 1829." 
I should suppose this account of a family fool was 
a fair representation of a good specimen of the class. 
He was evidently of defective intellect, but at times 
shewed the odd humour and quick conclusion which 
so often mark the disordered brain. I can only 
now give two examples taken from his history : — 
Having found a horse shoe on the road, he met 
Mr. Craigie, the minister of St. Fergus, and shewed it 
to him, asking in pretended ignorance, what it was. 
'' Why, Jamie,' said Mr. Craigie good-humouredly, 
" any body that was not a fool would know that is 
a horse shoe." '^ A!" said Jamie, with affected 
simplicity, '' what it is to be wise — to ken it's noe 
a meer's shoe!" 

On another occasion, when all the country side 
were hastening to the Perth races, Jamie had cut 
across the fields and reached a bridge near the town, 
and sat down upon the parapet. He commenced 
munching away at a large portion of a leg of mutton 
which he had somehow become possessed of, and 
of which he was amazingly proud. The laird came 
riding past, and seeing Jamie sitting on the bridge, 
accosted him : — ^^ Ay, Fleeman, are ye here already?" 
^^ Ou ay," quoth Fleeman, with an air of assumed 



112 Reminiscences of 

dignity and archness not easy to describe^ while his 
eye glanced significantly towards the mutton, ^^ Ou 
ay, ye ken a body when he has onythingr 

Of witty retorts by half-witted creatures of this 
class, I do not know of one more pointed than 
what is recorded of such a character who used to 
hang about the residence of a late Lord Fife, It 
would appear that some parts of his lordship's 
estates were barren, and in a very unproductive 
condition. Under the improved system of agricul- 
ture and of draining, great preparations had been 
made for securing a good crop in a certain field, 
where Lord Fife, his factor^ and others interested 
in the subject were collected together. There was 
much discussion, and some difference of opinion as 
to the crop with which the field had best be sown. 
The idiot retainer, who had been listening unnoticed 
to all that was said, at last cried out, *^ Saw't wi' fac- 
tors, ma lord ; they are sure to thrive everywhere." 

'^ Daft Will Speir" (mentioned page 197)^ was 
passing the minister's glebe^ where haymaking was 
in progress. The minister asked Will" if he thought 
the weather would keep up, as it looked rather like 
rain. '' Weel^" said Will, '' I canna be very sure, 
but I'll be passin' this way the nicht, an' I'll ca' in 
and tell ye." This poor creature had a high sense 
of duty. It appears he had been given the charge 



Scottish Life ^ Character. 1 1 3 

of the coal stores at the Earl of Eglinton's. Having 
on one occasion been reprimanded for allowing 
the supplies to run out before further supplies were 
ordered, he was ever afterwards most careful to fulfil 
his duty. In course of time poor Will became ^^sick 
unto death^" and the minister came to see him. 
Thinking him in really a good frame of mind, the 
minister asked him, in presence of the laird and 
others, if there were not one great thought which 
was ever to him the highest consolation in his 
hour of trouble ? *' Ou aye," gasped the sufferer, 
^^ Lord be thankit, a' the bunkers are fu'." 

« Well, Will," said the Earl one day to Will 
Speir, seeing the latter finishing his dinner, '^ have 
you had a good dinner to-day ?" (Will had been 
grumbling some time before.) '^ Ou^ vera gude," 
answered Will \ '' but gin onybody asks if I got a 
dram after 't^ what will I say ?*' 

There was an idiot who lived long in Lauder^ 
and seems to have had a great resemblance to the 
jester of old times. He was a staunch supporter 
of the Established Church. One day, some one 
gave him a bad shilling. On Sunday he went to 
the Seceders' Meeting-house, and when the ladle 
was taken round, he put in his bad shiUing, and 
took out elevenpence halfpenny. Afterwards he 
went in high glee to the late Lord Lauderdale, 

I 



1 14 Reminiscences of 

calling out, ^' I've cheated the Seceders the day^ my 
lord; I've cheated the Seceders." 

Jemmy had long harboured a dislike to the 
steward on the property, which he paid off in the 
following manner : — Lord Lauderdale and Sir An- 
thony used to take him out shooting •, and one day 
Lord Maitland (he was then)^ on having to cross 
the Leader, said, ^' Now, Jemmy^ you shall carry 
me through the water," which Jemmy duly did. 
Bowmaker, Ijord Lauderdale's steward^ who was 
shooting with them, said^ '' Now^ Jemmy, you 
must carry me over." '' Vera weel^" said Jemmy. 
He took the steward on his back, and when he 
had quietly carried him half way across the river, 
he dropped him quietly into the water. 

I have recorded an anecdote received from Mr. 
W. Chambers^ p. 181, of a half idiot — Rab Hamil- 
ton — whose name was familiar to most persons 
who knew Ayr in former days. He certainly was 
a natural ; but the following anecdote of him from 
a kind correspondent at Ayr, sanctions the opinion 
that he must have occasionally said such clever 
things as made some think him more rogue than 
fool. Dr. Auld often shewed him kindness, but 
being once addressed by him when in a hurry and 
out of humour, he said, '^ Get away, Rab ; I have 
nothing for you to-day." " Whaw^ whew," cried 



Scottish Life £5? Character. 115 

Rab, in a half howl, half whining tone, " I dinna 
want onything the day. Mister Auld ; I wanted to 
tell you an awsome dream I hae had. I dreamt I 
was deed." " Weel, what then ?" said Dr. Auld. 
" Ou, I was carried far^ far, and up^ up^ up, till I 
cam to heaven's yett^ where I chappit, and chappit^ 
and chappit, till at last an angel keekit out, and 
said, ^ Wha are ye?' 'Am puir Rab Hamilton. 
^ Whaur are ye frae ?' ' Frae the wdcked town o' 
Ayr.' ' I dinna ken ony sic place,' said the angel. 
'Oh! but Tm joost frae there.' Weel, the angel 
sends for the apostle Peter, and Peter comes wi his 
key and opens the yett, and says to me, ' Honest 
man, do you come frae the auld toun o' Ayr?' 
' Deed do I,' says I. ' Weel,' says Peter, ' I ken 
the place, but naebody's came frae the town o' Ayr, 
no since the year'" so and so — mentioning the year 
when Dr. Auld was inducted into the parish. Dr. 
Auld laughed, and told him to go about his business. 
A daft individual used to frequent the same 
district, about whom a variety of opinions were 
entertained, — some people thinking him not so 
foolish as he sometimes seemed. On one occasion, 
a person wishing to test whether he knew the value 
of money^ held out a sixpence and a penny, and 
offered him his choice. '^I'll tak the wee ane," 
he says, giving as his modest reason, " I'se no be 



1 1 6 Reminiscences of 

greedy." At another time^ a miller, laughing at him 
for his witlessness, he said, '^ Some things I ken, 
and some I dinna ken." On being asked what he 
knew, he said, '' I ken a miller has aye a gey fat 
sou." '' An' what d'ye no ken .'^" said the miller. 
'^ Ou," he returned^ ''* I dinna ken at wha's expense 
she's fed at." 

The following anecdote is told regarding the 
late Lord Dundrennan : — A half si]ly basket-woman 
passing down his avenue at Cumbstone one day, he 
met her, and said^ " My good woman_, there's no 
road this way." " Na, sir/' she said, '' I think 
ye're wrang there ; I think it's a most beautifu' 
road." 

A very amusing collision of one of these 
penurious lairds (mentioned at page i6i), a certain 
Mr. Gordon of Rothy, wuth a half-daft beggar 
wanderer of the name of Jock Muilton, has been 
recorded. The laird was very shabby, as usual, 
and, meeting Jock, began to banter him on the 
subject of his dress : — '^ Ye're very grand, Jock. 
That's fine claes ye hae gotten; whaur did ye get 
that coat V Jock told him who had given him his 
coat, and then, looking slily at the laird, he inquired, 
as with great simplicity, '^ and where did ye get yours, 
laird.?" 

The following is another example of shrewd 



Scottish Life & Character. 117 

and ready humour in one of that class which, from 
some unaccountable reason, seems almost passed 
away from the land. In this case the idiot was 
musical, and earned a few stray pence by playing 
Scottish airs on a fliite. He resided at Stirling^ and 
used to hang about the door of the inn to watch 
the arrival and departure of travellers. A lady 
who used to give him something occasionally, was 
just starting, and said to Jamie that she had only a 
fourpenny piece^ and that he must be content with 
that, for she could not stay to get more. Jamie was 
not satisfied ; and as the lady drove out, expressed 
his feelings by playing with all his might, ^^ O weerie 
o the toom pouch. ^' ^ 

The following anecdote, supplied by Mr. Blair, 
is an amusing illustration, both of the funeral pro- 
pensity, and of the working of a defective brain, in 
a half-witted carle, who used to range the county 
of Galloway^ armed with a huge pikestaff^ and who 
one day met a funeral procession a few miles from 
Wigton. A long train of carriages, and farmers 
riding on horseback, suggested the propriety of his 
bestriding his staff and following after the funeral. 
The procession marched at a brisk pace, and on 
reaching the kirkyard style, as each rider dis- 
mounted, " Daft Jock" descended from his wooden 
I Empty pocket. 



1 1 8 Reminiscences of 

steed, besmeared with mire and perspiration^ ex- 
claiming, '' Hech, sirs, had it no been for the 
fashion o' the thing, I micht as weel hae been on 
my ain feet." 

I think the following is about as good a sample 
of what we call Scotch '' pawky" as any I know : 
A country man had lost his wife and a favourite 
cow on the same day. His friends consoled him 
for the loss of the wife ; and being highly respec- 
table^ several hints and offers were made towards 
getting another for him. ** Ou ay/' he at length 
replied, ^^ you 're a' keen aneuch to get me anither 
wife^ but no yin o' ye offers to gie me anither cow." 

I have two anecdotes of two peers^ who might 
be said to come under the description of half- 
witted. In their case, the same sort of dry Scot- 
tish humour came out under the cloak of mental 
disease. A Scottish nobleman of the last century 
had been a soldier the greater part of his life, but 
was obliged to come home on account of aber- 
ration of mind, superinduced by hereditary propen- 
sity. Desirous of putting him under due restraint, 
and, at the same time, of engaging his mind in his 
favourite pursuit, his friends procured a Sergeant 
Briggs to be his companion and overseer ; and to 
render the sergeant acceptable as a companion, they 
introduced him to the old earl as Colonel Briggs. 



Scottish Life ^ Character. 1 1 9 

Being asked how he liked the colonel^ the earl 
answered, *' Very well ; he is a sensible man, and 
a good soldier, but he smells damnably of the halbertT 
Another case of humour in a mad Scottish 
nobleman has been narrated, and, I suppose, is 
traditionary. In Scotland, some hundred years ago, 
madhouses did not exist, or were on a very limited 
scale ; and there was often great difficulty in pro- 
curing suitable accommodation for patients who 
required special treatment and seclusion from the 
world. The nobleman in question had been con- 
signed to the Canongate prison, and his position 
there was far from comfortable. An old friend 
called to see him, and asked how it had happened 
that he was placed in so unpleasant a situation. 
His reply was, ^^ Sir, it was more the kind interest 
and patronage of my friends, than my own merits 
that have placed me here." *' But have you not 
remonstrated or complained ? " asked his visitor. 
'* I told them," said his lordship, '' that they were 
a pack of infernal villains." '^ Did you ? " said his 
friend ; ^^ that was bold language ; and what did 
they say to that .?" ^^Oh," said the peer, '' I took 
care not to tell them till they were fairly out of 
the place, and weel up the Canongate." 

Analogous with the language of the defective 
intellect is the language of the imperfectly formed 



1 20 Reminiscences of 

intellect, and I have often thought there was some- 
thing very touching and very fresh in the expres- 
sion of feelings and notions by children. I have 
given an example at p. 148, but the following is, 
to my taste^ a charming specimen : — A little boy 
had lived for some time with a very penurious 
uncle, who took good care that the child^s health 
should not be injured by over-feeding. The uncle 
was one day walking out, the child at his side, 
when a friend accosted him, accompanied by a 
greyhound. While the elders were talking^ the 
little fellow^ never having seen a dog of so slim 
and slight a texture, clasped the creature round 
the neck with the impassioned cry, " Oh, doggie, 
doggie^ and div ye live wi' your uncle tae, that 
ye are so thin !" 

In connection with funerals, I am indebted to 
the kindness of Lord Kinloch for a characteristic 
anecdote of cautious Scottish character in the west 
country. It was the old fashion, still practised in 
some districts^ to carry the cofRn to the grave on 
long poles, or '^ spokes," as they were commonly 
termed. There were usually two bearers abreast 
on each side. On a certain occasion, one of the 
two said to his companion, ''I'm awfu' tired wi' 
carryin'." " Do you carry P""' was the interrogatory 
in reply. "Yes; what do you do.?" "Oh/' 



Scottish Life i^ Character. 121 

said the other, '^ I aye lean,^'' His friend's fatigue 
was at once accounted for. 

I am strongly tempted to give the following 
account of a parish functionary in the words of a 
kind correspondent from Kilmarnock, although com- 
municated in the following very flattering terms : — 
'' In common with every Scottish man worthy of 
the name, I have been delighted with your book, 
have the ambition to add a pebble to the cairn, and 
accordingly send you a bellman story ; it has, at 
least, the merit of being unprinted and unedited." 

The incumbent of Craigie parish, in this district 
of Ayrshire, had asked a Mr. Wood, tutor in the 
Cairnhill family, to officiate for him on a particular 
Sunday. Mr. Wood, however, between the time 
of being asked and the appointed day, got intima- 
tion of the dangerous illness of his father ; in the 
hurry of setting out to see him, he forgot to 
arrange for the pulpit being filled. The bellman 
of Craigie parish, by name Matthew Sinning, and 
at this time about eighty years of age, was a very 
little ^^crined"^ old man, and always wore a 
broad Scottish blue bonnet, with a red *'bob" on 
the top. The parish is a small rural one, so that 
Matthew knew every inhabitant in it, and had seen 
the most of them grow up. On this particular day, 
I Shrivelled. 



122 Reminiscences of 

after the congregation had waited for some time, 
Matthew was seen to walk very slowly up the 
middle of the church, with the large Bible and 
psalm-book under his arm, to mount the pulpit 
stair ; and after taking his bonnet off, and smooth- 
ing down his forehead with his ^^loof/' thus ad- 
dressed the audience : 

'^ My freens, there was ane Wuds tae ha'e 
preached here the day, but he has nayther comed 
himsel', nor had the ceevility tae sen' us the scart 
o' a pen. Ye '11 bide here for ten meenonts, and 
gin naebody comes forrit in that time, ye can gang 
awa' hame. Some say his feyther's dead, as for 
that I kenna." 

The following is another illustration of the 
character given at p. i86 of the old Scottish betheral. 
One of those worthies, who was parochial grave- 
digger, had been missing for two days or so, and 
his reverence had in vain sent to discover him to 
most likely places. He bethought, at last, to make 
inquiry at a '^ public " at some distance from the 
village, and on entering the door met his man in 
the trance, quite fou, staggering out, supporting 
himself with a hand on each wa'. To the minister's 
sharp rebuke and rising wrath for his indecent and 
shameful behaviour, John, a wag in his way, and em- 
boldened by liquor, made answer, '' Deed, sir, sin' 



Scottish Life £s? Character. 1 23 

I ca'd at the manse^ I ha'e buried an auld wife, and 
I've just drucken her, hough and horn." Such was 
his candid admission of the manner in which he had 
disposed of the church fees paid for the interment. 

An encounter of wits between a laird and an 
elder. A certain laird in Fife, well known for his 
parsimonious habits, whilst his substance largely 
increased did not increase his liberality, and his 
weekly contribution to the church collection never 
exceeded the sum of one penny. One day, how- 
ever, by mistake, he dropped into the plate at the 
door a five-shilling-piece, but discovering his error 
before he was seated in his pew, hurried back, and 
was about to replace the dollar by his customary 
penny, when the elder in attendance cried out, 
" Stop, laird, ye may put in what ye like, but ye 
maun tak naething outf'' The laird, finding his 
explanations went for nothing, at last said, ^^ A 
weel, I suppose I'll get credit for it in heaven." 
'^ Na, na, laird," said the elder, ^' ye'U only get 
credit for x}i\Q penny'' 

Of table stories there is an anecdote which may 
be placed along with those of the two worthy 
farmers, p. 148, and which has occurred to my 
recollection as a Deeside story. My aunt, Mrs. 
Forbes, receiving a farmer at Banchory Lodge, 
offered him a draught of ale, which was accepted, 



1 24 Reminiscences of 

and a large glass of it quickly drunk off. My 
aunt^ observing no froth or head, said she was 
afraid it was not a good bottle. *' Oh, vera good^ 
mem ; it's just some strong o' the apple" (a com- 
mon country expression for beer which is rather 
tart or sharp). The fact turned out that a bottle 
of vinegar had been decanted by mistake. 

And further upon the subject of tenants at 
table. It was a most pungent remark of an honest 
farmer to the servant who put down beside him a 
dessert spoon, when he had been helped to pudding, 
" Tak it awa, mi man^ mi mou's as big for puddin' 
as it is for kail." 



I have received from Rev. William Blair^ A.M., 
U.P. minister at Dunblane, many kind communica- 
tions. I have made a selection^ which I now group 
together^ and they have this character in common, 
that they are all anecdotes of ministers : — 

Rev. Walter Dunlop of Dumfries was accompanying 
a funeral one day, when he met a man driving a flock of 
geese. The wayward disposition of the bipeds at the 
moment, was too much for the driver's temper, and he 
indignantly cried out " Deevil choke them." Mr. Dunlop 
walked a little farther on, and passed a farmstead, where 
a servant was driving out a number of swine, and banning 
them with "Deevil tak them." Upon which, Mr. D. 



Scottish Life & Character. 1 25 

stept up to him, and said, " Ay, ay, my man, your gentle- 
man '11 be wi' ye i' the noo; he's just back the road there 
a bit, choking some geese till a man." 

Shortly after the disruption. Dr. Cook of St. Andrews 
was introduced to Mr. Dunlop, upon which occasion Mr. 
D. said, " Weel, sir, ye've been lang Cook, Cooking them, 
but ye've dished them at last." 

Mr. Clark of Dalreoch, whose head was vastly dis- 
proportioned to his body, met Mr. Dunlop one day. 
" Weel, Mr. Clark, that's a great head o' yours." " Indeed 
it is, Mr. D., I could contain yours inside of my own." 
" Just sae'," echoed Mr. D., " I was e'en thinkin' it was 
gey an Zoom." 

Mr. Dunlop happened one day to be present in a 
Church Court of a neighbouring Presbytery. A Rev. 
Dr. was asked to pray, and declined. On the meeting 
adjourning, Mr. D. stept up to the Doctor, and asked how 
he did. The Doctor never having been introduced, did 
not reply. Mr. D. withdrew, and said to his friend, 
" Eh ! but is'na he a queer man, that Doctor, he'll neither 
speak to God nor man." 

The Rev. John Brown of Whitburn was riding out 
one day on an old pony, when he was accosted by a rude 
youth. " I say Mr. Broon, what gars your horse's tail 
wag that way." " Oo, jest what gars your tongue wag ; 
it's fashed wi' a wakeness.^^ 

About sixty years ago there were two ministers in San- 
quhar of the name of Thomson, one of whom was father 
of the late Dr. Andrew Thomson of Edinburgh, the other 
was father of Rev. Dr. T. of Balfron. The domestic in 



1 26 Reminiscences of 

the family of the latter was rather obtrusive with her secret 
devotions, sometimes kneeling on the stairs at night, and 
talking loud enough to be heard. On a communion season 
she was praying devoutly for her minister, " Remember 
Mr. Tamson, no him at the Green, but oor ain Mr. Tam- 
son." 

Rev. Mr. Leslie of Morayshire, combined the duties 
of justice of peace with those of parochial clergyman. One 
day he was taken into confidence by a culprit who had 
been caught in the act of smuggling, and was threatened 
with a heavy fine. The culprit was a staunch Seceder, and 
owned a small farm. Mr. L. said to him, " The king 
will come in the cadger's road some day. Ye wadna 
come to the parish kirk though it were to save your life, 
wad ye ? Come noo, an' i'se mak ye a' richt ! " Next 
Sabbath the seceding smuggler appeared in the parish kirk, 
and as the paupers were receiving parochial allowance, Mr. 
L. slipt a shilling into the smuggler's hand. When the 
J. P. Court was held, Mr. L. was present, and when a fine 
was proposed to be exacted from the smuggler. " Fine ! " 
said Mr. L. " he 's mair need o' something to get duds to 
his back. He 's ane o' my poor roll ; I gie'd him a shilling 
just last Sabbath." 

A worthy old Seceder used to ride from Gargunnock 
to Bucklyvie every Sabbath to attend the Burgher kirk. 
One day as he rode past the parish kirk of Kippen, the 
elder at the plate accosted him, " I'm sure, John, it's no 
like the thing to see you ridin' in sic a doon-pour o' rain, 
sae far by to thae Seceders. Ye ken the mercifu' man is 
mercifu' to his beast. Could ye no step in by." « Weel," 



Scottish Life ^ Character. \ 27 

said John, " I wadna care sae muckle about stablin^ my 
beast inside, but it's anither thing myseP gain' in." 

The Rev. Robert Blair was sometime minister of St. 
Andrews, and " famous for his familiar way." His 
Majesty Charles II. on one occasion visited him, and 
found him sitting on a chair, being at the time under bodily 
infirmity, which kept him from rising up before the king. 
Mrs. Blair ran to fetch a seat for his Majesty, when Mr. 
Blair said, " My heart, don't trouble yourself, he is a 
young man, and may draw in a chair for himself May 
not this have been partly the cause why Charles used to 
say that Presbyterianism was no religion for a gentleman ? 

The Rev. Dr. George Lawson of Selkirk acted for 
many years as theological tutor to the Secession Church. 
One day on entering the Divinity Hall he overheard a 
student remark that the professor's wig was uncombed. 
That same student, on that very day, had occasion to 
preach a sermon before the doctor, for which he received 
a bit of severe criticism, the sting of which was in its tail, 
" You said my wig wasna kaimed this mornin', my lad, 
but I think I 've redd your head to you." 

The Rev. John Heugh of Stirling was one day 
admonishing one of his people of the sin of intemperance. 
" Man, John, you should never drink except when you 're 
dry." " Weel, sir," quoth John, " that's what I'm aye 
doin', for 1 am never slockin'd." 

The Rev. Mr. M of Bathgate came up to a street 

pavier one day, and addressed him, " Eh ! John, what's 
this you're at ?" " Oh ! I'm mending the ways of Bath- 
gate !" " Ah, John, I've long been tryin' to mend the 



128 Reminiscences of 

ways o' Bathgate, an' they're no weel yet." " Weel, Mr. 
M., if you had tried my plan, and come doon to your 
knees ^ ye wad maybe hae come mair speed ! " 

There once lived in Cupar a merchant whose store 
contained supplies of eveiy character and description, so 
that he was commonly known by the soubriquet of Robbie 
A'Thing. One day a minister who was well known for 
making a free use of his notes in the pulpit, called at the 
store asking for a rope and pin to tether a young calf in 
the glebe. Robbie at once informed him that he could not 
furnish such articles to him. But the minister being some- 
what importunate, said, " Oh ! I thought you were named 
Robbie A 'Thing from the fact of your keeping all kinds 
of goods." *' Weel a weel," said Robbie, " I keep 
a'thing in my shop but calf s tether-pins and paper sermons 
for ministers to read.'' 

It was a somewhat whimsical advice, supported by 
whimsical argument, which used to be given by John 
Brown of Haddington to his students, on going abroad 
among people, " to sup well at the kail, for if they were 
good they were worth the supping, and if not they might be 
sure there was not much worth coming after them." 

A good many families in and around Dunblane rejoice 
in the patronymic of Dochart. This name, which sounds 
somewhat Irish, is derived from Loch Dochart, in Argyle- 
shire. The McGregors having been proscribed, were 
subjected to severe penalties, and a group of the clan having 
been hunted by their superiors, swam the stream which 
issues from Loch Dochart, and in gratitude to the river they 
afterwards assumed the family name of Dochart. A young 



Scottish Life tff Character. 129 

lad of this name, on being sent to Glasgow College, presented 
a letter from his minister to Reverend Dr. Heugh of Glas- 
gow. He gave his name as Dochart, and the name in the 
letter was McGregor, " Oh," said the Doctor, " I fear 
there is some mistake about your identity, the names don't 
agree." "Weel, sir, that's the way they spell the name 
in our country." 

Mr. Blair, as I have said^ is settled at Dun- 
blane, and there could hardly be a stronger proof 
of the respect paid to the memory of the saintly 
Leighton than the fact of the U. P. manse there 
being called '' The Leighton Manse." Mr. Blair 
has sent me a few traditions of the good Bishop, 
which I subjoin with much pleasure : — 

Archbishop Leighton, before his elevation to the 
archiepiscopal see of Glasgow, was for several years Bishop 
of Dunblane. It was his custom to walk along the 
banks of the Allan, under the shade of some fine old trees. 
One day he was met by a lady whose feelings were much 
stronger than her judgment, and who informed the good 
man that she had had a very extraordinary dream. The 
bishop asking her to let him know what the dream 
betokened, she informed him that she dreamed she was his 
wife, and she was afraid lest anything might hinder such 
a consummation, so devoutly to be wished, from coming 
true ! The bishop thereupon informed her that he would 
tarry till the dream was doubled, and he himself had 
dreamt that he was her husband, and then he would take 

K 



130 Reminiscences of 

all care to have it verified. The doubling of the dream 
never occurred, for the bishop lived and died in single 
blessedness. 

The Archbishop's mode of life in Dunblane was one 
of extreme quietude and simplicity. His domestic estab- 
lishment was anything but numerous. His man " John " 
did all his extra work, and used sometimes to go up the 
Allan fishing, leaving the bishop a prisoner at home, 
having forgetfully locked the door and put the key in 
his pocket. Instead of being turned off, as he deserved, 
the meek man only requested that next time John went to 
fish he should like him to leave the key in the door. 

His treatment of the non-conformists in his diocese 
was in marked contrast with that of his coadjutors on the 
Episcopal bench. Fines and imprisonments were unknown 
in Dunblane. He ruled his people by the law of kind- 
ness. Indeed, his see was a land of Goshen, while all 
around was being deluged as with the ten plagues. Tradi- 
tion has it that on one ocsasion a fugitive from persecution 
sought and found asylum in Dunblane from the fury of the 
pursuers. On another occasion, he was informed of a 
family near Crosscaply that frequented conventicles ; 
" Well," said the bishop, " if they get the word elsewhere, 
so be it." The informant wishing to have recourse to 
violence, the bishop said, " No, no, ye may go and lock 
the door on them, but be sure you lock it fast y^ that is, leave 
them unmolested. An old man informs me that he had 
in early youth received many traditions of the days of 
Leighton, from one Laird Wright, whose grandfather was 
baptized by the covenanters, at a burnside near the long 



Scottish Life Cs? Character. 131 

range of " hills ayont Dunblane," called Slimaback, from 
which circumstance he was commonly known by the name 
of Slimadykes. Laird Wright told him of a covenanter 
who was pursued by a troop of dragoons through Dun- 
blane, as far as the grass yard, and the bishop's walk and 
well. Here he attempted the dangerous expedient of 
crossing the Allan, which happened to be in full flood from 
bank to brae, and succeeded in crossing the swollen stream. 
The dragoons hesitated a moment as to whether they 
should follow, upon which the fugitive calmly answered, 
" Dinna come owre, for your guide's no sae trusty as 
mine." 



I have now the pleasure of introducing some 
more " Reminiscences " from the pen of the Rev. 
Dr. Clason. I had asked his kind assistance for 
some information on the curious question of the 
tent preaching at country communions (see page 28 
of this volume)^ and I have the following communi- 
cation. I am quite sure that my readers will agree 
with me in considering his account of the joint 
parochial communion services to be most interesting : — 

" In spite of your laudations of my poor con- 
tributions to your volume of ' Reminiscences/ which, 
you are aware, it was my wish, in the first instance^ 
should be given to the world, if given at all, with- 
out any mention of my name^ I have been induced, 
in compliance with your request, to send you some 



132 Reminiscences of 

additional scraps for the supplementary volume 
which you have now in hand. From these you 
can select anything that suits your purpose. I am^ 
afraid^ however, that there may be some feelings of 
restraint on me from knowing the fact, that I am 
not only writing to you, but, through you, to the 
public. 

" The question has sometimes been put to me, 
What is the use of your ^ Reminiscences ? ' To 
this I have only time to answer, in the true style of 
a Scotchman, by putting another question^ ' What 
is the use of two-thirds of the publications of the 
present day ? ' 

" In looking over what I formerly wrote on 
^ Funerals,' I wish to supply an unaccountable 
omission. Something ought to have ^en said of 
our cemeteries, and of the improver .nts that are 
going forward with respect to the in our own 
day,^ Nothing could well be more discreditable 
than the state in which they wt "e aniversally, in 
my younger years, — and some ^vpes of the olden 
times still remain among us. L hard to explain 
how all classes should have so long satisfied 

with a state of things so unwor^ ly of our country. 
One thing is certain, that it c nnot be ascribed to 

I It will be seen that I have anticipated Dr. Clason's 
proposal (page 2, etc). 



Scottish Life £5? Character. 133 

any indifference about the ashes of the dead. We 
never were indifferent. In fact^ there is nothing 
about which even the humblest classes among us 
are more jealous^ than that the remains of their 
kindred shall be undisturbed, and that every one 
has been made to feel, who, like myself, has taken 
in hand to make improvements in a churchyard. I 
have heard quiet and worthy men speak of the 
body-lifters, or ' all-night-men/ as they were wont 
to be called when their occupation was in vogue, 
with a ferocity in striking contrast to their ordinary 
bearing and character. Perhaps you will allow me 
to give an illustration of this feeling of respect for 
the dead. It occurred many years ago, during my 
residence as a minister in a country parish. A 
young worn '., the eldest of a family of daughters, 
died, — the n. ^ther was a widow. They were in 
easy circums^c .::es^ and dwelt much alone. Well 
do I remembc^r the circumstances. It was the time 
when Scottish h .arts were astir, for George the 
Fourth held his C urt at Holyrood, and -towards 
the ancient palac "ie steps or the movements of 
dwellers in town . country were bent. But in 
the widow's house of mourning there was only one 
engrossing thought -and care, — and that was, that 
the mortal remains of the beloved one who had so 
lately left it should lie undisturbed in their resting 



134 Reminiscences of 

place. They sought no help from neighbours, — 
they communed alone, — and the issue was, that the 
second danghter, a talented, energetic, and some- 
what eccentric girl, regularly went out at the darken- 
ing, and made her bed beside her sister's grave. 
This she continued to do till all apprehension of 
danger was removed. 

'^ It is now my purpose to write something, ^rj/, 
of social changes ; secondly, of changes in certain 
religious observances among the Presbyterians. 

'^ I. Social Changes. — i. On this head we have 
great cause to congratulate our medical friends on 
the high and influential position to which t?jeir pro- 
fession has now attained in our country parishes as 
well as towns. Sorry am I to record, that in the 
earlier part of the present century their honours 
were^ to a large extent, divided between the gar- 
deners and the village blacksmith. Not that the 
regular practitioners were altogether overlooked, but 
those who called them in were generally sneered at 
as ' the big folk.' A kind friend of mine in early 
life^ an M.D., had a gardener^ to whom the title of 
Doctor was as regularly given as to his master. 
Nay more^ he was called Doctor and Chow^ or 
Inshow. The meaning of the latter appellation I 
never understood. Happy man he ! he inherited 



Scottish Life £5? Character. 135 

his degree from his father, and his diploma was 
attested by the universal consent of the world in 
which he lived. Having never put myself into the 
hand either of gardener or smith, I can say nothing 
of their skill ; but they professed to bleed and blister, 
to cure rheumatism, to pull teeth, etc., etc. The 
gardener had herbs ready at hand for various affec- 
tions, and the smith had pincers — remedies for the 
diseases of horses and cattle — and why should they 
not be made available for the cure of human beings ? 
True, the wrong tooth might sometimes be ex- 
tracted, but the apology was always ready — ^ The 
best will make a mistak' ! ' 

'' 2. Every one who knows anything of the 
history of this country since the beginning of 
the present century, must be aware of the change 
that has taken place in social and domestic life, in 
consequence of the rapid progress of agriculture and 
of arts. It is not needful to enlarge on the sub- 
ject ; but it is interesting to advert to the fact. 
Formerly the farmers reared their own flax, the lint 
was prepared, the heckler was called for, and the 
little spinning-wheel was plied, for the manufacture 
of thread, by the females of the family. The village 
weaver accomplished the rest, and the linen, coarse 
or fine, was sent home to be bleached by the house- 
wife, and turned to practical use by the younger 



136 Reminiscences of 

females. So in regard to the more substantial dress. 
The wool was gathered from the flocks, it was 
teased (a fine play for the younger children), and 
the large wheel, over which the guidwife presided, 
was called into requisition. Her work done, the 
dyer and the weaver completed the process. But ere 
the guidman and the bairns could appear in the kirk 
or at market fully equipped in new suits and sub- 
stantial clothing, another official must be called in — 
the tailor. At that time the work was not sent to 
him^ but he went to his work in the farmhouse. 
This circumstance made him a man of some authority 
and importance, for he^had a discretionary power to 
give the earliest visits to those families whom he 
preferred. On this account it was always deemed 
prudent to be kind to him. He lived as the family 
did, and the fare was not worse when the tailor 
came. On the other hand, he was always on 
honour^ — no telling of tales out of the house, while 
he had the full privilege of making himself agreeable 
within the walls — a song to the young, and all manner 
of grave questions discussed with those who resorted 
to him. Moreover, it was considered as quite within 
the rules that he should resort to a sly practical 
joke^ for that promoted the hilarity of the family. 
For instance, the Lady Pendreich, who was rich but 
stingy, had shewn an inclination somewhat to econo- 



Scottish Life ^ Character. 137 

mise her fare. On one occasion she complained 
that the eggs were too hard. ' Never mind,' quoth 
the tailor, ' we'll make them saft wi' butter.' Next 
day they were too soft, — 'Never mind, well make 
them thick wi' butter.' Another day he had dined 
quite to his satisfaction, but still, though the fare 
was good, he had taken a wonderful longing for a 
dram. None, however^ was offered, and so he set 
to his work \ but soon, in handhng his goose, he 
cried out that he had burnt his fingers, and could 
work no more that day. The lady was in great 
distress, for her affairs were urgent, and for once 
her economy failed her. What was to be done ? 
He cried for the whisky bottle and a cup. These 
were readily tendered, and now the field was 
his own. He calmly filled the cup to the brim, 
and having drained it, he turned to the lady and 
politely said, — ^ We'll let the saw ^ seek the sair, 
Mem!' 

^^ Such was the tailor in former days, — the 
parish was his world, and he had a fair opportunity 
of taking a gage of the character and hospitalities of 
all its inhabitants. 

'' II. But I must now turn to graver matters. 
When I promised to say something of ' Presbyterian 
I Salve or ointment. 



138 Reminiscences of 

Observances,' my purpose was to take up a variety 
of points in which there has been a marked change 
within our own memory ; but, on second thoughts, 
I think it better to confine myself to one particular, 
namely^ to the manner in which the ordinance of 
the Lord's Supper was formerly dispensed among 
the Presbyterians of this country ; — and^ in writing 
on this point, I crave the candid attention of your 
readers. 

^' It is well known, that through the whole of 
last century^ and for nearly the first quarter of the 
present, the usage was, when the Lord's Supper 
was celebrated in any particular parish, to invite the 
ministers and inhabitants of the parishes adjacent to 
unite in observing the holy ordinance. This ar- 
rangement took its rise, not from any disrespect to 
the division of the country into parishes^ for our 
forefathers knew as well as ourselves the manifold 
benefits, polidcal, social, economic, and spiritual, 
resulting from it. The very reverse was the case, — 
and it is somewhat interesting to mark how anxiously 
the General Assembly watched lest the parochial 
tie should be weakened or broken. It is also note- 
worthy that this measure was not specially suggested 
and adopted by any parricular party,- — it was simul- 
taneously acquiesced in by all sections of the church, 
and it was as firmly clung to by the Moderate 



Scottish Life iff Character. 139 

clergy as by those who were opposed to them, — 
of which I have ample evidence. 

" The question then comes to be, how such a 
practice took its rise without the interposition of any 
ecclesiastical authority, and I apprehend we cannot 
rightly dispose of it unless we take into account 
what was the condition of our country immediately 
after the Revolution. Those Intrusted with the 
spiritual interests of Scotland could not then have 
done their duty^ unless they had done their utmost 
to promote a catholic spirit. Allusion has already 
been made to parochial animosities that then pre- 
vailed^ but we must take into account the causes 
that produced them. The country was broken 
into fragments. Among the clergy there were 
those who had been antecedently ministers of the 
Episcopal church, but who had conformed to Pres- 
byterianism,' — there were others w^ho had accepted 
the indulgence, — and there were others, few in 
number indeed, who had never in any way owned 
the Government of the Stuarts. Among the people, 
there were those who under the former reign had 
been steady conformists, and who, it may be sup- 
posed^ still retained their preference for the Episco- 
pal church ; — and there was no doubt an inveterate 
grudge between those who had taken the indulgence 
and those who had scorned to own the dethroned 



140 Reminiscences of 

dynasty in any way. Again, it is well known that 
there were at that time in the country hosts of 
' Masterful Beggars^' and others who set all law at 
defiance^ and whom it seemed to the wisest politician 
in our land a hopeless task to reduce to habits of 
good order by the use of any ordinary means. 
How, then, were all these disorderly elements to be 
fused into one coherent mass. The task was a 
hard one, and it seems to me that the measures that 
the church devised for accomplishing her part of the 
work were salutary and wise. It is very easy for 
us to heap reproaches on the memory of our fore- 
fathers, as if they had lent themselves to be the 
patrons of disorder in ecclesiastical affairs ; but let 
us cease to blame till we have found out in what 
way we could, under their circumstances, have done 
better. The ministers and church members of 
adjoining parishes were invited to meet together, to 
forget former differences, and to join in the great 
Gospel banquet. There were many accordingly 
that came to the feast, — the parish churches could 
not accommodate them, and so a temporary pulpit 
was erected in the open air, and they were addressed 
by successive ministers till they had, in turn, the op- 
portunity of joining in the peculiar services of the day. 
It is granted that many were present at the open air 
services who came without any other purpose than to 



Scottish Life Cff Character. 141 

hear, and of those there were doubtless some who 
had hitherto lived without the pale of any church, 
but there were not wanting instances in which ^ The 
fool that came to scoff remained to pray.' 

'' It has no doubt been long the fashion in cer- 
tain quarters to represent the communion season as 
mere scenes of confusion and excess, sanctioned by 
Church authority ; and it is granted that as the bad 
men often mixed with the good^ the assemblies 
must, on this account, present themselves 'm two 
aspects. On the one hand, the light-hearted and 
profane would too often indulge in levity and excess, 
while^ on the other hand, devout and serious men 
welcomed them as seasons of joy and peace, which 
they really were to many. 

'' This is too long a preface to my remini- 
scences, but it seemed to me unavoidable. Like 
others of my age, I was familiar with all the pecu- 
liarities of a Scottish Communion Sabbath from my 
early years ; I saw its beauties and its blemishes. 
There was much levity among the young and care- 
less, and much gravity among the thoughtful and 
serious. I now refer to the open air services. 
The fact that the auditors were of a character so 
mixed, fully warranted a variety in the sermons 
delivered. There were full statements of the Gospel^ 
and the consolation resulting from it. There were 



142 Reminiscences of 

solemn warnings to the wicked, and tender appeals 
to those who were about to adjourn to the church 
in order to join in the communion service. Those 
who communicated were by no means exclusively 
persons from adjoining parishes. There were others 
who came {rom far, but who had old hereditary 
ties to the church, which they delighted to revisit. 
They sat with their children by the graves of their 
forefathers^ and heard the Word of God, and in 
due time entered the sanctuary to commemorate the 
love of their ever-living Lord. 

'' Believe me, this is no fancied picture^ but is 
drawn from the life. As to the use of the refresh- 
ments provided for these occasions, I can speak from 
accurate information and acquaintance. There 
were^ alas ! instances of extravagance and excess on 
the part of some at least in the mixed multitude 
assembled — these were spots in the feast of love 
— but in regard to " all those who had any regard 
to character, any respect for decency, the case 
was far otherwise. In our early years we went 
to the neighbouring communion — all the world 
went — we were careful not to look near the manse, 
for obvious reasons of delicacy and consideration, 
but there were always some of the farmers ready 
to take us under their charge, in the way of pro- 
viding refreshment. It was a frugal banquet, but 



Scottish Life ^ Character. 143 

suitable for every good purpose. In regard to the 
conversation^ it was grave, without any constraint ; 
there was some reference, of course, amongst the 
speakers^ to what they had heard and done^ but 
there was no parade, no grimace. 

'' Many of your readers will doubtless think 
that I have been altogether one-sided, and extra- 
vagantly favourable in the description of the Scottish 
Communion Sabbath in former days, and I will 
readily own this if they will join with me in lament- 
ing that the author of ' The Cottar's Saturday 
Night ' saw nothing in the scene before him but 
what furnished matter for a lampoon unworthy of 
his genius. Why was this so ? Alas ! it is a sad 
story, but it has now been told with stern fidelity. 
A number of the clergy in his neighbourhood had 
imbibed Socinian opinions, but there were men on 
the opposite side who were far more than a match 
for them^ and so^ when argument failed, the beaten 
party had no recourse but to hound on the man of 
genius to pour on their adversaries his profane and 
coarse invectives. How Burns felt the downfall of 
the faction he served we are not told. But the 
subject is unworthy of farther notice, and only 
deserves to be attended to as it explains what has 
always appeared to me a mystery in the history of 
the works of Burns. 



144 Reminiscences of 

" Although the poetry of Burns speedily found 
its way into the hands of every one, yet it does not 
appear that the peculiar observances connected with 
the Lord's Supper at the time were in any way 
disturbed by what he had written. It is not very 
likely that devout men would be scared from the 
enjoyment of a valued privilege by one who had so 
little title to regard in religious matters at least, on 
account either of his principles or character. Nay^ 
it is probable that the description he gave of the 
abuses that prevailed^ may have induced many who 
had some regard to propriety and decorum to abstain 
from taking part in scenes that would only bring 
discredit on their name. So that the Communion 
Sabbath, as I saw it in youth, may have been a fair 
representation of what it was early in last century. 

'' But the time came when there was an entire 
change in the public feelings and habits. How far 
this resulted from the economic revolution already 
referred to, viz., the breaking of the small farms^ 
and the dispersion of families among our towns and 
cities, when they earned for themselves, in the pro- 
secution of business or of the useful arts, a far more 
ample provision than the little holdings they had 
cultivated could afford, it is hardly worth while to 
inquire. The Lord's Supper began to be more 
frequently celebrated in country parishes, and from 



Scottish Life £5? Character. 145 

this and other causes, the consequence ensued^ that 
very few of the people thought of communicating 
with other congregations than their own. My 
country parishioners were wont to tell me of the 
vast crowds from a distance that visited Carmunnock 
in their early days at the sacrament season. They 
came on the Saturday — found lodgings in the village 
or neighbouring farm-houses — in the evening the 
families resorted in groups to the braes and the fields 
adjacent for their household devotion^ and they de- 
scribed how solemnizing it was to hear the evening 
song of praise ascending to God from the scattered 
multitudes. But long ere I was settled all that had 
passed away. Few came to unite with us in the 
sacred service^ and none came from a distance. The 
open air worship was still kept up, but those who 
assembled with the professed purpose of joining in 
it were too often heedless and disorderly, because 
no longer restrained by the presence of the multi- 
tude of devout and serious persons, so that there 
were some cases of excess and riot occasionally 
among the young. The position of the parish so 
near Glasgow, and in the neighbourhood of many 
populous villages and public works^ peculiarly ex- 
posed us to the evil results which too often arise 
from promiscuous assemblages at all times. We had 
no resource, therefore, but to discontinue the field 

L 



146 Reminiscences of 

worship, and I believe that the vast majority^ if not 
the whole of our country parishes^ owned the neces- 
sity of the change. Still some of the more aged 
worthies were sad at heart, because they remem- 
bered the glory of former days^ which now was 
the more manifest than in the case of the gifted and 
devout lady to whom I have already referred in 
former communications.^ The neighbouring parishes 
soon followed our example, and now the old Scot- 
tish communion Sabbath is, so far as the Lowlands 
are concerned^ only a reminiscence. Still, when 
we look back to these religious solemnities, let us 
honour the wisdom and piety of our forefathers in 
the arrangements they made for trying times ; let us 
remember that the churchyards of our land^ where 
the Word of God was preached, were embalmed 
in the memory of many a Scotsman as the spots 
where they drew the first spiritual breath, and first 
tasted the pleasures of devotion, and let no man 
henceforth, who has any claim to a christian cha- 
racter, speak of the old Scottish communion Sab- 
bath as a ' Holy Fair.'" 



There is no class of men which stands out 
more prominent in the Reminiscences of the last 
hundred years than that of our Scottish Judges. 

I Lady Stuart of Castlemilk. See page 225, 7th edition. 



Scottish Life £5? Character. 147 

They form, in many instances^ a type or represen- 
tative of the leading peculiarities of Scottish life and 
manners. They are mixed up with all our affairs, 
social and political. There are to be found in the 
annals of the bench rich examples of pure Scottish 
humour, the strongest peculiarity of Scottish phraseo- 
logy^ acuteness of intellect, cutting wit, eccentricity 
of manners, and abundant powers of conviviality. 
Their successors no longer furnish the same anec- 
dotes of oddity or of intemperance. The Courts of 
the Scottish Parliament house, without lacking the 
learning or the law of those who sat there sixty 
years ago, lack not the refinement and the dignity 
that have long distinguished the Courts of West- 
minster Hall. 

Stories still exist, traditionary in society, amongst 
its older members, regarding Lords Gardenstone, 
Monboddo, Hermand, Newton, Polkemmet, Brax- 
field, etc. But many younger persons do not 
know them. It may be interesting to some of my 
readers to devote a few pages on the subject, and 
to offer some judicial gleanings.^ 

I I have derived some information from a curious book, 
" Kay's Portraits," 2 vols. The work is scarcely known in 
England, and is becoming scarce in Scotland. '* Nothing 
can be more valuable in the way of engraved portraits than 
these representations of the distinguished men who adorned 
Edinburgh in the latter part of the i8th century/' — Chambers, 



148 Reminiscences of 

Of Lord Gardenstone (Francis Garden) I have 
many early personal reminiscences, as his property 
of Johnstone was in the Howe of the Mearns, not 
far from Fasque. He was a man of energy, and 
promoted improvements in the county with skill and 
practical sagacity. His favourite scheme was to 
establish a flourishing town upon his property^ and he 
spared no pains or expense in promoting the impor- 
tance of his village of Laurencekirk. He built an 
excellent inn, to render it a stage for posting. He 
built and endowed an Episcopal chapel for the 
benefit of his English immigrants, in the vestry of 
w^hich he placed a most respectable library, and he 
encouraged manufacturers of all kinds to settle in the 
place. Amongst others, a hatter came to recon- 
noitre, and ascertain its capabilities for exercising his 
calling. But when^ on going to public worship on 
Sunday after his arrival^ he found only three hats 
in the kirk, viz., the minister's, Lord Gardenstone's 
and his own — the rest of the congregation all wear- 
ing the old flat I^owland bonnet — he soon went off, 
convinced that Laurencekirk was no place for hatters 
to thrive in. He was much taken up with his hotel 
or inn, and for which he provided a large volume 
for receiving the written contributions of travellers 
who frequented it. It was the landlady's business 
to present this volume to the guests and ask them 



Scottish Life £5? Character. 149 

to write in it, during the evenings^ whatever occurred 
to their memory or their imagination. In the 
mornings it was a favourite amusement of Lord 
Gardenstone to look it over. I recollect Sir Walter 
Scott being much taken with this contrivance, and 
his asking me about it at Abbotsford. His son 
said to him, '^ You should establish such a book, 
sir, at Melrose 5 " upon which Sir W. replied, ^' No, 
Walter, I should just .have to see a great deal of 
abuse of myself." On his son deprecating such a 
result, and on his observing my surprised look, he 
answered, ^' Well, well, I should have to read a 
great deal of foolish praise, which is much the same 
thing." There is another lingering reminiscence 
which I retain connected with the inn at Laurence- 
kirk. The landlord, Mr. Cream, was a man well 
known throughout all the county, and was dis- 
tinguished, in his late years, as one of the few men 
who continued to wear a pigtaiL On one occasion 
the late Lord Dunmore (grandfather or great-grand- 
father of the present peer), who also still wore his 
queue, halted for a night at Laurencekirk. On the 
host leaving the room, where he had come to take 
orders for supper. Lord Dunmore turned to his 
valet and said, ^' Johnstone, do I look as like a 
fool in my pigtail as Billy Cream does ? " — ^' Much 
about it, my lord," was the valet's imperturbable 



1 50 Reminiscences of 

answer. ^' Then," said his lordship^ " cut off mine 
to-morrow morning when I dress." 

Lord Gardenstone seemed to have had two 
favourite tastes : he indulged in the love of pigs and 
the love of snufF. He took a young pig as a pet, 
and it became quite tame^ and followed him about 
like a dog. At first the animal shared his bed, but 
when growing up to advanced swinehood, it became 
unfit for such companionship, he had it to sleep in 
his room, in which he made a comfortable couch 
for it of his own clothes. His snufF he kept not 
in a box, but in a leathern waist-pocket made for 
the purpose. He took it in enormous quantities, 
and used to say that if he had a dozen noses he 
would feed them all. Lord Gardenstone died 1793. 

Lord Monboddo (James Burnett^ Esq. of Mon- 
boddo) is another of the well-known members of 
the Scottish Bench, who combined, with many 
eccentricities of opinion and habits, great learning 
and a most amiable disposition. From his paternal 
property being in the county of Kincardine^ and 
Lord M. being a visitor at my father's house, and 
indeed a relation or clansman, I have many early 
reminiscences of stories which I have heard of the 
learned judge. His speculations regarding the 
origin of the human race have, in times past, 
excited much interest and amusement. His theory 



Scottish Life l£ Character. 151 

was, that man emerged from a wild and savage 
condition, much resembling that of apes ; that man 
had then a tail like other animals, but which, by 
progressive civilization and the constant habit of 
sittings had become obsolete. This theory pro- 
duced many a joke from facetious and superficial 
people, who had never read any of the arguments 
of an elaborate work, by which the ingenious and 
learned- author maintained his theory.^ Lord 
Karnes, a brother judge, had a hit at it. On some 
occasion of their meeting, Lord Monboddo was for 
giving Lord Kames the precedency. Lord K. de- 
clined, and drew back, saying, ^' By no means, my 
lord ; you must walk first that I may see your taiir 
I recollect Lord Monboddo's coming to dine at 
Fasque caused a great excitement of interest and 
curiosity. I was in the nursery, too young to take 
part in the investigations ; but my elder brothers 
were on the alert to watch his arrival, and get a 
glimpse of his tail. Lord M. was really a learned 
man, read Greek and Latin authors — not as a mere 
exercise of classical scholarship — but because he 
identified himself with their philosophical opinions, 
and would have revived Greek customs and modes 
of life. He used to give suppers after the manner 
of the ancients, and used to astonish his guests by 
I Origin and Progress of Language. 



152 Reminiscences of 

the ancient cookery of Spartan broth, and of tnulsum. 
He was an enthusiastical Platonist. On a visit to 
Oxford, he was received with great respect by the 
scholars of the University, who were much inte- 
rested in meeting with one who had studied Plato^ 
as a pupil and follower. In accordance with the 
old custom at learned universities, Lord Monboddo 
was determined to address the Oxonians in Latin, 
which he spoke with much readiness. But they 
could not stand the numerous attacks upon the head 
of Priscian. Lord Monboddo shocked the ears of 
the men of Eton and of Winchester by dreadful 
false quantities — verse-making being, in Scotland, 
then quite neglected, and a matter little thought of 
by the learned judge. 

Lord Monboddo was considered an able lawyer, 
and on many occasions exhibited a very clear and 
correct judicial discernment of intricate cases. It 
was one of his peculiarities that he never sat on 
the bench with his brother judges, but always at 
the clerk's table. Different reasons for this practice 
have been given, but the simple fact seems to have 
been, that he was deaf, and heard better at the 
lower seat. His mode of travelling was on horse- 
back. He scorned carriages, on the ground of its 
being unmanly to '' sit in a box drawn by brutes." 
When he went to London he rode the whole way. 



Scottish Life & Character. 153 

At the same period, the late Mr. Barclay of Ury 
(father of the late laird), when he represented Kin- 
cardineshire in Parliament, always walked to London. 
He was a very powerful man, and could walk fifty 
miles a day, his usual refreshment on the road being 
a bottle of Port wine, poured into a bowl, and 
drunk off at a draught. I have heard that George 
III. was much interested at these performances, and 
said " I ought to be proud of my Scottish subjects, 
when my judges ride^ and my members of Parliament 
walk to the metropolis." 

On one occasion of his being in London, Lord 
Monboddo attended a trial in the Court of King's 
Bench. A cry was heard that the roof of the court- 
room was giving way, upon which judges, lawyers, 
and people made a rush to get to the door. Lord 
Monboddo viewed the scene from his corner with 
much composure. Being deaf and short-sighted, 
he knew nothing of the cause of the tumult. The 
alarm proved a false one ; and on being asked why 
he had not bestirred himself to escape like the rest, 
he coolly answered that he supposed it was an 
annual ceremony with which, as an alien to the English 
laws, he had no concern, but which he considered 
it interesting to witness as a remnant of antiquity. 
Lord Monboddo died 1799. 

Lord Rockville (the Hon» Alexander Gordon, 



1 54 Reminiscences of 

third son of the Earl of Aberdeen) was a judge dis- 
tinguished in his day by his ability and decorum. 
'^ He adorned the bench by the dignified manliness 
of his appearance, and polished urbanity of his 
manners."^ Like most lawyers of his time, he 
took his glass freely, and a whimsical account which 
he gave, before he was advanced to the bench, of 
his having fallen upon his face, after making too 
free with the bottle, was commonly current at the 
time. Upon his appearing rather late at a convivial 
club with a most rueful expression of countenance, 
and on being asked what was the matter, he ex- 
claimed with great solemnity, " Gentlemen, I have 
just met with the most extraordinary adventure that 
ever occurred to a human being. As I was walking 
along the Grassmarket, all of a sudden the street rose 
up and struck me on the faceT He had, however, a 
more serious encounter with the street after he was a 
judge. In 1792, his foot slipped as he was going 
to the Parliament House, he broke his leg, was 
taken home, fevered, and died. 

Lord Braxfield (Robert McQueen of Braxfield) 
was one of the judges of the old school, well known 
in his day, and might be said to possess all the 
qualities united, by which the class were remarkable. 
He spoke the broadest Scotch. He was a sound 
^ Douglas' Peerage, vol. i., p. 22. 



Scottish Life ^ Character, 155 

and laborious lawyer. He was fond of a glass of 
good claret, and had a great fund of good Scotch 
humour. He rose to the dignity of Justice-Clerk, and, 
in consequence^ presided at many important political 
criminal trials about the year 1793-4^ such as those 
of Muir, Palmer^ Skirving, Margarot, Gerrold, etc. 
He conducted these trials with much ability and 
great firmness, occasionally, no doubt, with more 
appearance of severity and personal prejudice than 
is usual with the judges who in later times are called 
on to preside on similar occasions. The disturbed 
temper of the times and the daring spirit of the 
political offenders seemed, he thought, to call for a 
bold and fearless front on the part of the judge, and 
Braxfield was the man to shew it, both on the 
bench and in common life. He met, however, 
sometimes with a spirit as bold as his own from the 
prisoners before him. When Skirving was on trial 
for sedition, he thought Braxfield was threatening 
him, and by gesture endeavouring to intimidate him; 
accordingly, he boldly addressed the bench : — " It 
is altogether unavailing for your Lordship to menace 
me, for I have long learnt to fear not the face of 
man." I have observed that he adhered to the 
broadest Scottish dialect. '^ Hae ye ony coonsel, 
man?" he said to Maurice Margarot (who, I believe, 
was an Englishman). ^' No," was the reply. '^ Div 



156 Reminiscences of 

ye want to hae ony appinted 1^ " '^ No," replied 
Margarot ; ^^ I only want an interpreter to make me 
understand what your Lordship says." Braxfield 
had much humour, and enjoyed wit in others. He 
was immensely delighted at a reply by Dr. M^Cubbin, 
the minister of Bothwell. Braxfield, when Justice- 
Clerk^ was dining at Lord Douglas', and observed 
there was only port upon the table. In his usual 
off- hand brusque manner^ he demanded of the noble 
host if '' there was nae claret i' the castle." '' Yes," 
said Lord Douglas ; '' but my butler tells me it is 
not good." ^^ Let's pree't," said Braxfield, in his 
favourite dialect. A bottle was produced, and 
declared by all present to be quite excellent. '^ Noo, 
minister," said the old judge, addressing Dr. M^Cub- 
bin, who was celebrated as a wit in his day, ^^ as a 
fama clamosa has gone forth against this wine, I 
propose that you absolve it," — playing upon the 
terms made use of in the Scottish Church Courts. 
'* Ay, my Lord," said the minister, '' you are first- 
rate authority for a case of civil or criminal law, but 
you do not quite understand our Church Court 
practice. We never absolve till after three several 
appearances r The wit and the condition of absolu- 
tion were alike relished by the judge. Lord Brax- 
field closed a long and useful life in 1799. 

Of Lord Hermand we have spoken on several 



Scottish Life ^ Character. 157 

occasions, and his name has become in some manner 
identified with that conviviality which marked almost 
as a characteristic the Scottish bench of his time. 
He gained, however, great distinction as a judge, 
and was a capital lawyer. When at the bar, Lords 
Newton and Hermand were great friends, and many 
were the convivial meetings they enjoyed together. 
But Lord Hermand outlived all his old last-century 
contemporaries, and formed with Lord Balgray what 
we may consider the connecting links between the 
past and the present race of Scottish lawyers. 

We could scarcely perhaps offer a more marked 
difference between habits once tolerated on the bench 
and those which now distinguish the august seat of 
senators of justice than by quoting, from Kay's 
Portraits, vol. ii., p. 278, a sally of Lord Balmuto 
(Claud Boswell),, which he played off, when sitting 
as judge, upon a young friend whom he was deter- 
mined to frighten. " On one occasion, a young 
counsel was addressing him on some not very im- 
portant point that had arisen in the division of a 
common (or commonty, according to law phraseo- 
logy), when, having made some bold averment, 
Balmuto exclaimed, ' That's a lee, Jemmie.' * My 
lord ! ' ejaculated the amazed barrister. ^ Ay, ay, 
Jemmie ; I see by your face yeVe leeing.' ^ Indeed, 
my lord, I am not.' ^Dinna tell me that; it's no 



1 5 8 Reminiscences of 

in your memorial (brief) — awa wi' you ; ' and^ 
overcome with astonishment and vexation, the dis- 
comfited barrister left the bar. Lord Balmuto there- 
upon chuckled with infinite delight ; and beckoning 
to the clerk who attended on the occasion, he said, 

* Are ye no Rabbie H 's man ? ' ^ Yes, my lord.' 

' Was na Jem.mie leeing ? ' ^ Oh no, my 

lord.' ^ Ye' re quite sure ? ' ^ Oh yes.' ' Then 
just write out what you want^ and I'll sign it; my 
faith, but I made Jemmie stare.' So the decision 
was dictated by the clerk, and duly signed by the 
judge, who left the bench highly diverted with the 
fright he had given his young friend.' Such scenes 
enacted in Court now would astonish the present 
generation, both of lawyers and of suitors. 

These references to peculiarities and eccentricities 
in Scottish judges may not unsuitably form an intro- 
duction to the mention of a Court of Session jeu 
d'esprit, which was well known and popular in its 
day, but which may not be so familiar to some of 
my younger readers. It is generally believed to be 
the production of the late accomplished Lord Core- 
house (George Cranstoun), and is considered a 
happy burlesque upon the manner and professional 
peculiarities of several of the judges already men- 
tioned. The editor of Kay's Portraits well ob- 
serves that it is in caricature, but entirely without 



Scottish Life £s? Character. 159 

rancour or any feeling of a malevolent nature 
towards those whom he represents as giving 
judgment in the '' Diamond Beetle case." The 
involved phraseology of Lord Bannatyne — the pre- 
dilection for Latin quotation of Lord Meadowbank — 
the brisk manner of Lord Hermand — the anti- 
Gallic feeling of Lord Craig — the broad dialect of 
Lords Polkemmet and Balmuto — and the hesitating 
manner of Lord Methven, are admirably carica- 
tured : — ^ 

<' NOTES taken at advising the Action of Defamation 
and Damages, Alexander Cunningham, Jeweller in 
Edinburgh, against James Russell, Surgeon there. 

" Lord President (Sir Ilay Campbell) — Your Lord- 
ships have the petition of Alexander Cunningham against 
Lord Bannatyne's interlocutor. It is a case of defamation 
and damages for calling the petitioner's Diamond Beetle an 
Egyptian Louse, You have the Lord Ordinary's distinct 
interlocutor on pages 29 and 30 of this petition : — ' Having 
considered the Condescendence of the pursuer, Answers for 
the defender,' and so on ; ' Finds, in respect that it is not 
alleged that the diamonds on the back of the Diamond 
Beetle are real diamonds, or any thing but shining spots, 

I The version which I have given of this amusing bur- 
lesque has been revised by Mr. Pagan, Cupar-Fife, and cor- 
rected from his own manuscript copy, which he had procured 
from authentic sources about forty years ago. 



i6o Reminiscences of 

such as are found on other Diamond Beetles^ which like- 
wise occur, though in a smaller number, on a great number 
of other Beetles, somewhat different from the Beetle libelled, 
and similar to which there may be Beetles in Egypt, with 
shining spots on their backs, which may be termed Lice 
there, and may be different not only from the common 
Louse, but from the Louse mentioned by Moses as one of 
the plagues of Egypt, which is admitted to be a filthy 
troublesome Louse, even worse than the said Louse, which 
is clearly different from the Louse libelled. But that the 
other Louse is the same with, or similar to, the said Beetle, 
which is also the same with the other Beetle ; and although 
different from the said Beetle libelled, yet, as the said 
Beetle is similar to the other Beetle, and the said Louse 
to the said other Louse libelled; and the other Louse to 
the other Beetle, which is the same with, or similar to, the 
Beetle, which somewhat resembles the Beetle libelled; 
assoilzies the defender, and finds expenses due.' 

" Say away, my Lords. 

" Lord Meadowbank — This is a very intricate and 
puzzling question, my Lord. I have formed no decided 
opinion; but at present I am rather inclined to think the 
interlocutor is right, though not upon the ratio assigned in it. 
It appears to me that there are two points for consideration : 
First, Whether the words libelled amount to a convicium 
against the Beetle ; and. Secondly, Admitting the convicium, 
whether the pursuer is entitled to found upon it in this action. 
Now, my Lords, if there be a convicium at all, it consists 
in the comparatio or comparison of the Scarabaus or Beetle 
with the Egyptian Pediculus or Louse. My first doubt 



Scottish Life Cff Character. 1 6 1 

regards this point, but it is not at all founded on what the 
defender alleges, that there is no such animal as an Egyptian 
Pediculus or Louse in rerum natura; for though it does not 
actually exist, it may possibly exist (if not in actio^ yet in 
potentia, if not in actuality, yet in potentiality or capa- 
city) ; and whether its existence be in esse vel posse, is 
the same thing to this question, provided there be ter- 
mini hahiles for ascertaining what it would be if it did 
exist. But my doubt is here. How am I to dis- 
cover what are the essentia of any Louse, whether 
Egyptian or not ? It is very easy to describe its accidents 
as a naturalist would do — to say that it belongs to the 
tribe of aptera (or that it is a yellow, little, greedy, filthy, 
despicable reptile) — but we do not learn from this what 
the proprium of the animal is in a logical sense, and still 
less what its differentia are. Now, without these, it is 
impossible to judge whether there is a con'vicium or not ; 
for, in a case of this kind, which sequitur naturam delicti^ 
we must take them meliori sensu, and presume the compa- 
ratio to be in meliorihus tantum. And here I beg that 
parties, and the bar in general — [interrupted by Lord 
Hermand, Tour Lordship should address yourself to the 
Chair'j — I say — I beg it may be understood that I do not 
rest my opinion on the ground that Veritas convicii excusat. 
I am clear that although this Beetle actually were an 
Egyptian Louse, it would afford no relevant defence, 
provided the calling it so were a convicium; and there my 
doubt lies. 

" With regard to the second point, I am satisfied that 
the Scarabaus or Beetle itself has no persona standi ir 

M 



1 62 Reminiscences of 

judicio; and therefore the pursuer cannot insist in the name 
of the Scarabausy or for his behoof. If the action lie at 
all, it must be at the instance of the pursuer himself, as the 
verus dominus of the Scarab £USy for being calumniated 
through the convicium directed primarily against the animal 
standing In that relation to him. Now, abstracting from 
the qualification of an actual domtntum, which is not 
alleged, I have great doubts whether a mere convicium is 
necessarily transmitted from one object to another, through 
the relation of a dominium subsisting between them ; and, 
if not necessarily transmissible, we must see the principle 
of its actual transmission here ; and that has not yet been 
pointed out. 

" Lord Hermand — We heard a little ago, my Lord, 
that there is a difficulty in this case; but I have not been 
fortunate enough, for my part, to find out where the diffi- 
culty lies. Will any man presume to tell me that a Beetle 
is not a Beetle, and that a Louse is not a Louse ? I never 
saw the petitioner's Beetle; and what's more, I don't care 
whether I ever see it or not, but I suppose it's like other 
Beetles, and that's enough for me. 

" But, my Lord, I know the other reptile well. I 
have seen them, I have felt them, my Lord, ever since 
I was a child in my mother's arms; and my mind 
tells me that nothing but the deepest and blackest malice 
rankling in the human breast could have suggested this 
comparison, or led any man to form a thought so inju- 
rious and insulting. But, my Lord, there's more here 
than all that — a great deal more. One could have 
thought the defender would have gratified his spite to 



Scottish Life ii Character. 163 

the full by comparing the Beetle to a common Louse 
— an animal sufficiently vile and abominable for the pur- 
pose of defamation — \Shut that door therej — but he 
adds the epithet Egyptian^ and I know well what he 
means by that epithet. He means, my Lord, a Louse 
that has been fattened on the head of a Gipsy or Tinker 
undisturbed by the comb or nail, and unmolested in the 
enjoyment of its native filth. He means a Louse grown to 
its full size, ten times larger, and ten times more abominable 
than those with which your Lordships and I are familiar. 
The petitioner asks redress for the injury so atrocious and 
so aggravated; and, as far as my voice goes, he shall not 
ask it in vain. 

" Lord Craig — I am of the opinion last delivered. 
It appears to me to be slanderous and calumnious to com- 
pare a Diamond Beetle to the filthy and mischievous 
animal libelled. By an Egyptian Louse, I understand 
one which has been formed on the head of a native Egyptian 
— a race of men who, after degenerating for many centuries, 
have sunk at last into thetbyss of depravity, in consequence 
of having been subjugated for a time by the French. I 
do not find that Turgot, or Condorcet, or the rest of the 
economists, ever reckoned the combing of the head a species 
of productive labour ; and I conclude, therefore, that wher • 
ever French principles have been propagated. Lice grow to 
an immoderate size, especially in a warm climate like that 
of Egypt. I shall only add, that we ought to be sensible 
of the blessings we enjoy under a free and happy Consti- 
tution, where Lice and men live under the restraint of equal 



164 Reminiscences of 

Jaws — the only equality that can exist in a well-regulated 
state. 

" Lord Polkemmet — It should be observed, my Lord, 
that what is called a Beetle is a reptile very well known in 
this country. I have seen mony ane o' them in Drumshorlin 
Muir; it is a little black beastie, about the size of my 
thoom nail. The country folks ca' them Clocks ; and 
I believe, they ca' them also Maggy-wi'-the-mony-feet ; 
but they are not the least like any Louse that ever I saw ; so 
that, in my opinion, though the defender may have made 
a blunder through ignorance, in comparing them, there does 
not seem to have been any animus injuriandi: therefore I 
am for refusing the petition, my Lords. 

"Lord Balmuto — 'Am^ for refusing the petition. 
There's more Lice than Beetles in Fife. They ca' them 
Clocks there. What they ca' a Beetle is a thing as 
lang as my arm; thick at the one end and sma' at the 
other. I thought, when T read the petition, that the Beetle 
or Bittle had been the thing that the women have when 
they are washing towels or napey with — things for dad ding 
them with; and I see the petitioner is a jeweller till his 
trade ; and I thought he had ane o' thae Beetles, and set 
it all round with diamonds ; and I thought it a foolish and 
extravagant idea; and I saw no resemblance it could have 
to a Louse. But I find I was mistaken, my Lord; and 
1 find it only a Beetle-clock the petitioner has; but my 
opinion's the same it was before. I say, my Lords, 'Am 
for refusing the petition, I say 

" Lord Woodhouselee — There is a case abridged in 

I His Lordship usually pronounced / am — Aum. 



Scottish Life ^ Character. 165 

the third volume of the Dictionary of Decisions, Chalmers 
v» Douglas, in which it was found, that Veritas convtcti 
excusaty which may be rendered not literally, but in a 
free and spirited manner, according to the most approved 
principles of translation, 'the truth of calumny affords 
a relevant defence.' If, therefore, it be the law of 
Scotland (which I am clearly of opinion it is), that the 
truth of the calumny affords a relevant defence — and if it 
be likewise true, that the Diamond Beetle is really an 
Egyptian Louse — I am inclined to conclude (though 
certainly the case is attended with difficulty) that the 
defender ought to be assoilzied. — Refuse. 

"Lord Justice Clerk (Rae) — I am very well 
acquainted with the defender in this action, and have 
respect for him — and esteem him likewise. I know him 
to be a skilful and expert surgeon, and also a good man; 
and I would do a great deal to serve him or to be 
of use to him, if I had it in my power to do so. But 
I think on this occasion he has spoken rashly, and I 
fear foolishly and improperly. I hope he had no bad 
intention — I am sure he had not. But the petitioner 
(for whom I have likewise a great respect, because I 
knew his father, who was a very respectable baker in 
Edinburgh, and supplied my family with bread, and very 
good bread, it was, and for which his accounts were regu- 
larly discharged), it seems has a Clock or a Beetle, I 
think it is called a Diamond Beetle, which he is very fond 
of, and has a fancy for, and the defender has compared it to 
a Louse, or a Bug, or a Flea, or a worse thing of that kind, 
with a view to render it despicable or ridiculous, and the 



1 66 Reminiscences of 

petitioner so likewise, as the proprietor or owner thereof. 
It is said that this is a Louse infacty and that the veritas 
convicti excusat; and mention is made of a decision in the 
case of Chalmers v. Douglas. I have always had a 
great veneration for the decisions of your Lordships; and 
I am sure will always continue to have while I sit here; 
but that case was determined by a very small majority, 
and T have heard your Lordships mention it on various 
occasions, and you have always desiderated the propriety 
of it, and I think have departed from it in some instances. 
I remember the circumstances of the case well ; — Helen 
Chalmers lived in Musselburgh, and the defender, Mrs. 
Douglas, lived in Fisherrow; and at that time there was 
much intercourse between the genteel inhabitants of 
Fisherrow, and Musselburgh, and Inveresk, and likewise 
Newblgging; and there were balls, or dances, or assera* 
blies, every fortnight or oftener, and also sometimes I 
believe every week; and there were card-parties, assemblies 
once a fortnight, or oftener; and the young people danced 
there also, and others played at cards, and there were 
various refreshments, such as tea and coffee, and butter and 
bread, and I believe, but I am not sure, porter and negus, 
and likewise small beer. And it was at one of these 
assemblies that Mrs. Douglas called Mrs. Chalmers very 
improper names. And Mrs. Chalmers brought an action 
of defamation before the Commissaries, and it came by 
advocation into this Court, and your Lordships allowed 
a proof of the Veritas convicti^ and it lasted a veiy long 
time, and in the end answered no good purpose even to 
the defender herself, while it did much hurt to the pur- 



Scottish Life i^ Character. 1 67 

suer's character, I am therefore for refusing such a proof 
in this case; and I think the petitioner in this case and 
his Beetle have been slandered, and the petition ought to 
be seen. 

" Lord Methven — If I understand this a — a — a — 
interlocutor, it is not said that the a — a — a — a — Egyptian 
Lice are Beetles, but that they may be, or — a — a — a — a 
— resemble Beetles. I am therefore for sending the 
process to the Ordinary to ascertain the fact, as I think it 
depends upon that whether there be a — a — a — a — convicium 
or not. I think also the petitioner should be ordained to 
a — a — a — produce his Beetle, and the defender an Egyp- 
tian Louse or Pediculusy and if he has not one, that he 
should take a diligence a — a — a — against havers to recover 
Lice of various kinds ; and these may be remitted to Dr« 
Monro, or Mr. Play fair, or to some other naturalist, to 
report upon the subject. 

"Agreed to." 

The remaining articles in this volume being of 
a miscellaneous character, partly anecdote and partly 
historical, are inserted without much regard to 
method or arrangement. 

As it has all along formed part of my object 
to record reminiscences of practices and customs 
recently become obsolete with us, I avail myself of 
some communications bearing upon this subject. 
The first is from a valued friend, the Rev. W. Gil- 
lespie, U.P. minister of Mary's Chapel, High Street, 



1 68 Reminiscences of 

from whom and from whose excellent lady I have 
many interesting communications. 

Being in company lately with some foreign 
gentlemen from widely different parts of the world, 
the United States, Russia, India, etc., the conversa- 
tion turned on slavery. And the curious fact was 
mentioned by Professor that a kind of serf- 
dom actually existed in Scotland^ in respect of farm- 
servants and colliers^ up to a very recent date ; hinds 
on farms being regarded as a sort of adscripts 
gleba, a trace of the system being found in the use 
of the old term ^^ bondagers ,'* as applied to them in 
some parts of the country to this day ; and colliers 
working in mines and born on the soil being actu- 
ally considered and treated as slaves within the 
memory of men now living ; and finally, that there 
are living men in the country who were once slaves. 
Now for the story. A man now living at Dixon's 
large collieries and iron-works near Glasgow^ but 
whose native place was Fife, from whence he had 
been transferred twenty years before to the west, 
was asked why he had been sent to Glasgow. 
'' Oh," he said with great simplicity, ** my master 
nifFered me for a pony."^ 

I Since this anecdote was in print, I find the fact fully 
corroborated by the authority of Mr. R, Chambers (Domestic 
Annals, vol. iii. p. 250). The restraints upon the persona] 



Scottish Life ^ Character, 169 

The second communication of this kind is from 
a Musselburgh correspondent^ an eye-witness, whose 
reminiscences extend back for seventy years, and 
which describe what we trust is now an obsolete 
custom. 

I stand from 1780, and the scenes witnessed 
and described as under^ took place in 1 786-1 790, 
consequently very few are now living to authenti- 
cate my story. At the period stated^ there was a 
provident benefit society of carters formed for the 
relief of their sick and indisposed members (and 
which it is believed still exists and thriving), and it 
was their practice on the head quarter in midsum- 
mer for the whole body to have a holiday, and which 
was designated in common parlance the Carter's or 
Whipman's Play, and was looked forward to with 
much anxiety by all. 

On all such occasions it was the custom for 
each of the members to appear mounted on his best 
nag, saddled and bridled, well curried, and deco- 
rated, head, mane, and tail, more or less with rib- 
bons. The principal himself, in his best suit — a 
large broad bonnet, stitched all over with ribbons 
of every colour, and obtained for the day from wife, 

freedom of salters and colliers, remains of the villainage of 
the middle ages, were not put an end to till 1775, when a sta- 
tute (15 Geo. III. 26) extinguished them. 



lyo Reminiscences of 

sweetheart, or neighbour, and broad sash of same 
materials ; also^ when mounted^ suspended at his 
left wrist^ a wooden mallet, with a handle about 
thirty inches long, the purpose of which will be ex- 
plained after. The place of rendezvous of the troop 
having been agreed on — generally a few miles in 
the country, having the advantage of a barn or such 
like accommodation, for lunching, drinking, or danc- 
ing, and a good public-house at no great distance — 
to which locality the whole party make off in pro- 
cession, with colours flaunting, horses curvetting, and 
all in the best possible glee for a day's fun. That 
which at the time the writer witnessed was at the 
village of Nether Liberton, about two miles south of 
Edinburgh, then a large thriving populous place, 
where, upon a spot selected for the purpose, were 
erected two firm posts, stuck in the ground at about 
ten or twelve feet distance, a good height, and 
bound at top with a cross beam, thus forming a 
kind of arch. Midway on the cross beam hung by 
a rope of about three feet long, suspended by the 
bung-hole, a barrel or firkin of about two feet long 
in size. If it is asked, What of this barrel, to 
which all eyes are turned up, and such mighty pre- 
parations directed for ? Could any one of the pre- 
sent day be made to believe that the members of 
such a society could originate, and that thousands 



Scottish Life <C^ Character. 171 

of citizens of all classes could witness with the 
greatest delight, the cruel torture of a poor animal 
— as in this said barrel was coopered up a live cat, 
with a large quantity of soot ? 

The method of torture, or eliciting the fun, as 
it was termed, was in this manner — viz., each 
mounted clown was required to march in procession 
under the archway, and on passing to strike with 
his mallet the end of the suspended barrel, which, 
if missed, was a fine of sixpence. The first stroke 
on the barrel of course sent it swinging considerably 
from the perpendicular ; hence the difficulty of the 
next trooper to plant his hit (as it was required to 
keep moving) \ also^ if he did hit^ not to do so with too 
much vigour, lest he should stave the barrel, and 
thereby have the cat and soot down upon him and 
his horse — the great point of the tomfoolery of the 
day. Consequently the fun was in watching the 
alternate hitting and missing of each trooper as he 
advances and passes, which he has many times to 
do, returning to the charge in a circle, and lasting 
probably for an hour, till the last stroke causes the 
descent of poor puss and the soot on the luckless 
clown of the day. 

The minor amusements were a race for pro- 
bably a saddle^ or so many horse^shoes ; also, one 
or more foot-races for small sums, and then an 



172 Reminiscences of 

adjournment to the barn to demolish their store of 
cold lamb^ beef, and mutton pies, with lots of ale, 
whisky^ and punch ; then dancing and revelry till a 
late hour, thus spending a day that could not be pro- 
perly designated holy^ and which marks very strikingly 
the contrast of feeling and action of even the lowest 
classes of the present day. 

The following is a curious example of a style 
of Scottish newspaper notices of marriages, now 
passed away, and in which the fortune and charms 
of the bride were more specifically registered than 
is done at present. It is from a very interesting 
collection of antiquarian gleanings from Aberdeen- 
shire records, published in 1859, by Gavin Tur- 
refF, 46 High Street^ Old Aberdeen^ and was 
kindly communicated by Mr. TurrefF himself : — 

*^ Last Thursday^ Sitton Cryr was married in 
this town to Miss Bell Forbes, daughter to the Hon. 
Sir Alexander Forbes of Foveran, a young lady of 
great beauty, and possessed of all the amiable vir- 
tues that can render happy the nuptial state." — - 
Aberdeen Journal^ 1750. 

'' Yesternight was married here Mr. Walter 
Cochran, depute town-clerk, to Miss Nelly Udny, 
daughter to James Udny, advocate, a young lady of 
distinguished merit and virtue." — Ibid^ ^750- 

*' Last Tuesday, Alex. Aberdein of Cairnbulg, 



Scottish Life & Character. 173 

late provost of this city, was married at Montrose 
to Miss Nelly Carnegie^ sister to Sir James Car- 
negie of Pitarrow, a young lady of celebrated beauty 
and distinguished merit." — Ihid^ 1750* 

'^ On Wednesday last, James Gumming of 
Breda, Esq., was married to Miss Vera Chalmers, a 
most agreeable young lady, daughter to Provost 
Wm. Chalmers. — Ihid^ 1748. 

" We hear from London that George Turner 
of Wateridgemuir, sherifF-clerk for the county of 
Aberdeen, was last week married at St. Michael's, 
Cornhill, to Miss Peggy Cattanach of Aberdeen, a 
lady endowed with every amiable qualification." — 
Ib'id^ 1 749* 

" By a private letter from London, we learn 
that Robert Udny, merchant there, son to Mr. 
James Udny, advocate in this place, was married at 
Oxford on the 13th curt, to Miss Hougham, an 
agreeable young lady with a fortune of ;^6ooo." — 
Ibid^ I749» 

" Same day was married Thomas Forbes of 
Tillienaught, Esq., to Miss Christian Cumming, 
eldest daughter of George Cumming, Esq. of Pitullie, 
a most beautiful and agreeable young lady." — Ibid^ 

1757- 

*' Last Sunday night was married Dr. Alex. 

Rose, physician in this city, to Miss Nelly Middle- 



174 Reminiscences of 

ton, daughter to the late Captain Alex. Middle- 
ton, comptroller of the customs at this port, and 
niece to Brigadier-General John Middleton of Seaton, 
a young lady of distinguished beauty and superlative 
merit."— /foV, 1755. 

The following might have been added as 
examples of the dry humorous manner in which our 
countrymen and countrywomen sometimes treat mat- 
ters with which they have to deal, even when serious 
ones : — 

An itinerant vendor of wood in Aberdeen 
having been asked how his wife was, replied, '^ O 
she's fine, I hae ta'en her tae Banchory; " and on 
it being innocently remarked that the change of air 
would do her good, he looked up, and, with a half 
smile, said, " Hoot, she's i' the kirkyard." 

The well-known aversion of the Scotch to 
hearing read sermons has often led to amusing occur- 
rences. One indulged pastor in a country district 
was permitted so far to transgress the rule, as to be 
allowed notes, which never in number exceeded 
three, and which of course were — ^' ist, 2d, thirdly, 
and lastly." One Sabbath afternoon, having ex- 
hausted both firstly and secondly, he came to the 
termination of his discourse ; but, unfortunately, the 
manuscript was awanting. In vain efforts to seek 
the missing paper, he repeated *' thirdly and lastly" 



Scottish Life & Character. 175 

ad nauseam to his hearers. At last one^ cooler than 
the others, rose, and nodding to the minister, 
observed, '^ Deed, sir, if I'm no mistaken, I sa 
* thirdly and lastly' fa our the poopit stairs." 

A man who had had four wives, and who medi- 
tated a fifth time entering the marriage state, was 
conversing with his friend on the subject, who was 
rather disposed to banter him a little upon his past 
matrimonial schemes, as having made a good deal 
of money by his wives, — ^' Na, na," he replied, 
^' they cam' t' me wi' auld kists,^ and I sent them 
hame i' new anes." 

The two following are from a correspondent 
who heard them told by the late Dr. Barclay the 
anatomist, to whom reference has been made, p. 63 
of this volume : — 

A country laird, at his death, left his property 
in equal shares to his two sons, who continued to 
live very amicably together for many years. At 
length one said to the other, '' Tam, we're getting 
auld now, you'll tak' a wife, and when I dee you'll 
get my share o' the grund." '^ Na, John, you're the 
youngest and maist active, you'll tak' a wife, and when 
I dee you'll get my share." ** Od," says John, 
'^ Tam, that's just the way wi' you whan there's ony 
fash or trouble. The deevil a thing you'll do at a'." 
I Chests. 



176 Reminiscences of 

A country clergyman, who was not on the 
most friendly terms with one of his heritors who 
resided in Stirling, and annoyed the minister by 
delay in paying the teinds, found it necessary to 
make him understand that his proportion of stipend 
must be paid so soon as it became due. The heri- 
tor sent it next term punctual to the time. When 
the messenger was introduced to the minister, he 
asked who he was^ remarking, that he thought he 
had seen him before, '' I am the hangman of 
Stirling, sir." ^^ Oh, just so, take a seat till I 
write you a receipt." It was evident that the laird 
had chosen this medium of communication with the 
minister as an affront, and to shew his spite. The 
minister, however, turned the tables upon him, send- 
ing back an acknowledgment for the payment in 

these terms : — ^' Received from Mr. , by the 

hands of the hangman of Stirling, his doer^ the sum 
of," etc. etc. 

The following story of pulpit criticism by a 
beadle, used to be told, I am assured, by the late 
Rev. Dr. Andrew Thomson : — 

A clergyman in the country had a stranger 
preaching for him one day, and meeting his beadle, 
he said to him, ^' Well, Saunders, how did you like 

1 In Scotland it Is usual to term the law-agent or man of 
business of any party, his " doer." 



Scottish Life ^ Character. 177 

the sermon to-day ?" " I watna', sir^ it was rather 
o'er plain and simple for me. I like thae sermons 
best that jumbles the joodgement and confounds the 
sense : Od^ sir, I never saw ane that could come 
up to yoursel' at that." 

The epithet '^ canny" has frequently been 
applied to our countrymen^ not in a severe or invi- 
dious spirit, but as indicating a due regard to per- 
sonal interest and safety. In the larger edition of 
Jamieson (see edition of 1840) 1 find there are 
no fewer than eighteen meanings given of this 
word. The following extract from a provincial 
paper, which has been sent me, will furnish a good 
illustration. It is headed, the "' Property Quali- 
fication," and goes on — '^ Give a Chartist a large 
estate, and a copious supply of ready money, and 
you make a Conservative of him. He can then see 
the other side of the moon^ which he could never see 
before. Once, a determined Radical in Scotland, 
named Davy Armstrong, left his native village ; 
and, many years afterwards, an old fellow-grumbler 
met him, and commenced the old song. Davy shook 
his head. His friend was astonished, and soon 
perceived that Davy was no longer a grumbler, but 
a rank Tory. Wondering at the change, he was 
desirous of knowing the reason. Davie quietly and 
laconically replied — * I've a coo (cow) noo.' " 

N 



lyS Reminiscences of 

But even still more ^' canny" was the eye to 
the main chance in an Aberdonian fellow-country- 
man, communicated in the following pleasant terms 
from a Nairn correspondent : — '^ I have just been 
reading your delightful ' Reminiscences^' which 
has brought to my recollection a story I used to 
hear my father tell. It was thus : — A countryman 
in a remote part of Aberdeenshire having got a 
newly-coined sovereign, in the days when such a 
thing was seldom seen in his part of the country, 
went about shewing it to his friends and neighbours 
for the charge of id. each sight. Evil days^ how- 
ever^ unfortunately overtook him, and he was obliged 
to part with his loved coin. Soon after, a neigh- 
bour called on him, and asked a sight of his 
sovereign, at the same time tendering a penny. 
^ Ah, man/ says he, ' I haent noo ; but I'll lat 
ye see the cloutie it was roiv't in for a bawbee. " 

I have often been amused with the wonderful 
coolness with which a parishioner announced his 
canny care for his supposed interests when he 
became an elder of the kirk. The story is told of 
a man who had got himself installed in the eldership, 
and, in consequence, had for some time carried round 
the ladle for the collections. He had accepted the 
office of elder because some wag had made him 
believe that the remuneration was sixpence each 



Scottish Life & Character. 179 

Sunday, with a boll of meal at New Year's day. 
When the time arrived he claimed his meal, but was 
told he had been hoaxed. " It may be sae wi' the 
meal^" he said coolly^ ^' but I took care o' the sax- 
pence mysel'." 

There was a good deal both of the pawky and 
the canny in the following anecdote, which I have 
from an honoured lady of the south of Scotland : — 
'' There was an old man who always rode a donkey 
to his work, and tethered him while he worked on 
the roads, or wherever else it might be. It was sug- 
gested to him by my grandfather that he was sus- 
pected of putting it in to feed in the fields at other 
people's expense. ^ Eh, laird, I could never be 
tempted to do that; for my cuddy winna eat ony thing 
but nettles and thristles.' One day my grandfather 
was riding along the road, when he saw Andrew 
Leslie at work, and his donkey up to the knees in 
one of his clover fields, feeding luxuriously. ' Hollo ! 
Andrew,' said he ; ^ I thought you told me your 
cuddy would eat nothing but nettles and thistles.' 
' Ay,' said he, ' but he misbehaved the day ; he 
nearly kicket me ower his head, sae I pat him in 
there just to punish him.' " 

The following, from a provincial paper, contains 
a very amusing recognition of a return which one 
of the itinerant race considered himself conscien- 



i8o Reminiscences of 

tiously bound to make to his clerical patron for an 
alms : — *' A beggar while on his rounds one day this 
week^ called on a clergyman (within two and a half 
miles of the Cross of Kilmarnock), who, obeying 
the Biblical injunction of clothing the naked, offered 
the beggar an old top-coat. It was immediately 
rolled up, and the beggar, in going away with it 
under his arm, thoughtfully (!) remarked^ ^I '11 hae 
tae gie ye a day's hearin for this, na.' " 

The ^' crack i' the kirkyard^" see page 58^ 7th 
edition. There is another story which shews that 
a greater importance might be attached to this pri- 
vilege than was done even by the servant lass 
mentioned above. A rather rough subject, residing 
in Galloway, used to attend church regularly, as it 
appeared, for the sake of the crack in the church- 
yard. For on being taken to task for his absent- 
ing himself, he remarked, ^' There's nae need to 
gang to the kirk noo, for everybody gets a news- 
paper." 

The natural and self-complacent manner in 
which the following anecdote brings out in the 
Highlander an innate sense of the superiority of 
Celtic blood is highly characteristic : — A few years 
ago, when an English family were visiting in 
the Highlands, their attention was directed to a 
child crying ; on their observing to the mother 



Scottish Life i^ Character. i8i 

it was cross^ she exclaimed, ^' Na, na, it's nae cross, 
for we're baith true Hieland." 

The following is a good Jacobite story. It must 
have happened shortly after 1745, when all manner 
of devices, not dangerous, were fallen upon to shew 
Jacobitism, such as having white knots on gowns, 
drinking " The king, ye ken wha I mean," — uttering 
the toast ^' the king" with much apparent loyalty^ 
and passing the glass on the side of the water-jug 
from them, indicating the esoteric meaning of majesty 
beyond the sea, — etc. etc. -, and various toasts, which 
were most important matters in those times, and were 
often given as tests of loyalty, or the reverse, accord- 
ing to the company in which they were given. Miss 
Carnegy of Craigo, well known and still remembered 
amongst the old Montrose ladies as an uncompromis- 
ing Jacobite, had been vowing that she would drink 
King James and his son in a company of staunch 
Brunswickers, and being strongly dissuaded from any 
such foolish and dangerous attempt by some of her 
friends present, she answered them with a text of 
Scripture, ^' The tongue no man can tame — James 
Third and Aiicht^'' and drank off her glass ! 

The late Mr. Grame of Garsock, in Strathearn, 
whose grandson already ^^ is laird himsel," used to 
tell, with great unction^ some thirty years ago, a 
story of a neighbour of his own of a still earlier 



1 82 Reminiscences of 

generation^ Drummond of Keltie, who, as it seems, 
had employed an itinerant tailor instead of a metro- 
politan artist. On one occasion when a new pair 
of inexpressibles had been made for the laird, they 
were so tight that, after waxing hot and red in the 
attempt to try them on, he let out rather savagely at 
the tailor, who calmly assured him, '^ It's the fash'n ; 
it's jist the fash'n/' ^' Eh ? ye haveril, is it the 
fashion for them no to go on P " 

An English gentleman writes to me : — '' We have 
all heard much of Scotch caution, and I met once 
with an instance of it which I think is worth record- 
ing, and which I tell as strictly original. About 
1827, I fell into conversation^ on board of a Stirling 
steamer, with a well-dressed middle aged man, who 
told me he was a soldier of the 42 d, going on leave. 
He began to relate the campaigns he had gone 
through, and mentioned having been at the siege of 
St. Sebastian. — ' Ah ! under Sir Thomas Graham ?' 
' Yes^ sir; he commanded there.' 'Well,' I said^ 
merely by way of carrying on the cracky ' and what 
do you think of him P ' Instead of answering^ he 
scanned me several times from head to foot, and 
from foot to head, and then said in a tone of the 
most diplomatic caution^ 'Ye'U perhaps be of the 
name of Grah'm yersell, sir.' There could hardly 
be a better example either of the circumspection of 



Scottish Life i^ Character. 183 

a real canny Scot, or of the lingering influence of 
the old patriarchal feeling by which ' A name, a 
word, makes clansmen vassals to their lord.'" 

The following account of a Scottish dinner- 
party seems to harmonize with the sturdy character 
of the gentlemen of the older generation. When 
Sir Robert Preston was eighty years old. Chief 
Commissioner Adam seventy, Lord Melville and the 
Lord President Charles Hope sixty, and Lord 
Meadowbank nearly fifty, they all met at Granton 
to eat a dinner of entirely Scotch dishes. Every 
variety that their memories could supply was cooked 
in every possible way. It was very successful on 
the whole, but something was wrong about the 
cockie-leekie, and they agreed to meet again for a 
repetition of the dinner in two or three weeks, which 
they did ; and at that dinner they all agreed that if 
they were spared till that day ten years y they would have 
another Scotch dinner, same party, same place. And 
strange to say, in this world of changes, one of 
the party being by that time past fourscore and ten, 
another fourscore, and two threescore and ten, they 
all did meet in health and strength ; and a sort of 
half proposal was made to repeat the dinner after 
another decade was passed. The company did not, 
however, formally take up the challenge, feeling 
that it would, humanly speaking, be impossible that 



1 84 Reminiscences of 

one of the guests, Sir R. Preston^ could be alive 
then to come. He died soon after, and so did 
Chief Commissioner Adam. But this circumstance 
was remembered — and all the other guests did 
assemble on the third decade and ate exactly the 
same Scotch dinner as they had done twenty years 
before. 

In the present Volunteer movement we record 
with pleasure an anecdote concerning the ^/^Volun- 
teers in the beginning of the century, and which we 
think not unworthy of being recorded. It was 
related by the father of my correspondent^ who held 
a commission in the ist Regiment, Glasgow Volun- 
teers. This regiment had scarcely been raised when 
its services were required in a somewhat trying 
emergency — the mutiny of a regiment of Highland 
Fencibles^ then in the barracks, which had taken 
offence at being ordered abroad, or for some other 
cause. The Highlanders were posted on one side 
of George Square and the Volunteers on the other ; 
and their lines were so extended that the conversa- 
tion of two Highlanders was overheard^ running to 
the following effect: — ^^ Donald," said one^ ''I 
dinna think thae lads would stan' us." ^' I dinna 
ken, Angus," was the reply; ''they're shentlemen, 
an' they wudna rin." The idea is strikingly Celtic, 
but admirably hits the truth. 



Scottish Life £s? Character. 185 

I have not had leisure to pursue^ as I had in- 
tended, a further consideration of Scottish Dialect 
and their differences from each other in the north, 
souths east, and west of Scotland, I merely remark 
now that the dialect of one district is considered 
quite barbarous, and laughed at by the inhabitants of 
another district where a different form of language 
is adopted. I have spoken (p. 103) of the essential 
difference between Aberdeen and southern Scotch. 
An English gentleman had been visiting the Lord 
Provost of Edinburgh and accompanied him to Aber- 
deen. His lordship of Edinburgh introduced his 
English friend to the Provost of Aberdeen^ and they 
both attended a great dinner given by the latter. 
After grace had been said, the Provost kindly and 
hospitably addressed the company Aberdonice — 
"Now, gentlemen, fah tee, fah tee." The English- 
man whispered to his friend and asked what was 
meant by '' fah tee, fah tee ;" to which his lordship 
replied — '' Hout, he canna speak — he means "fau 
too, fau too." Thus one Scotticism was held in 
terror by those who used a different Scotticism, as 
at Inverary, the wife of the chief writer of the place, 
seeking to secure her guest from the taint of infe- 
rior society, intimated to him, but somewhat confi- 
dentially, that Mrs. W. (the rival writer's wife) 
was quite a vulgar body, so much so as to ask any 



1 86 Reminiscences of 

one leaving the room to ^^ snib the door^" instead of 
bidding them, as she triumphantly observed, '^ sneck 
the door." 

Any of my readers not much conversant with 
Aberdeen dialect will find the following a good 
specimen : — A lady who resided in Aberdeen being 
on a visit to some friends in the country, joined an 
excursion on horseback. Not being much of an 
equestrian, she was mounted upon a Highland pony 
as being the canniest baste. He, however, had a 
trick of standing still in crossing a burn. A burn 
had to be crossed — the rest of the party passed on, 
while '' Paddy" remained, pretending to drink. 
Miss More^ in great desperation^ called out to one 
of her friends — ^^ Bell, 'oman, turn back an' gie me 
yer bit fuppie, for the breet's stannin' i' the peel 
wi' ma." 

The following is an historical reminiscence^ 
which has been communicated as a traditionary 
account of an interesting period^ and deserves to be 
recorded : — 

It is well known, writes my correspondent, 
that the individual referred to in '' Waverley," by 
the Prince, as a friend who had volunteered to lead 
his followers across the moss at Preston to attack 
the royal troops, was a gentleman of the name of 
Anderson, who, his father being then alive, was 



Scottish Life ^ Character. 187 

known at the time, and for many subsequent years, 
as '' the young laird o' Whitbury." This property, 
situated in the south part of East Lothian, is still in 
the possession of a collateral descendant of the 
family. Mr. Anderson, though for some time in 
prison after the suppression of the rebellion, was so 
fortunate as to be liberated without being brought to 
trial, the authorities, no doubt, being ignorant of the 
part he had acted on that memorable occasion. 
The anecdote I am about to mention connected 
with him, though not as a political character, is 
chiefly interesting in regard to the individual it prin- 
cipally refers to, as what so very few, out of the 
many millions then and since existing, could state as 
a circumstance that had happened to themselves. 
An old lady came, or rather was brought, on one 
occasion, to visit him at Whitbury, who, in the 
course of their conversation, said, '' Noo, Mr. An- 
derson, hoo lang do you think it is since I was last 
in this hoose ? Just aughty-twa years !" ^' Aweel, 
madam," was the humorous answer of the laird, 
'' I hope yell no be sae lang o^ comin' back 
again." What makes the circumstance remarkable 
is, that the first of the two visits paid, with so long 
an interval between them, and which was of course 
in his father's time, was not made when she was a 
child, but after she had come to woman's estate. 



1 8 8 Reminiscences of 

The old lady in question was a Mrs. Wilson of 
Peaston, also in East Lothian^ an aunt of Sir John 
Rennie^ the celebrated engineer. What her age 
was at the time of the second visit I do not remem- 
ber hearing, but she died when in her loist year, 
and, hke most centenarians, with all her faculties 
perfect to the last. When she put the question to 
her host, he also must have attained a venerable 
age, being between eighty and ninety when he died, 
but up to that time always known and spoken of as 
^^ the young laird o' Whitbury." 

I have the greatest pleasure in closing these 
" Reminiscences" with a curious account of some 
particulars connected with the eccentric marriage of 
the Duke of Douglas, and with a well-known and 
very extraordinary incident of his grace's history. 
The account is extracted from a diary of John 
Brown of Waterhaughs, Ayrshire ; there is also a 
supplement to the extract from the diary, being a 
communication by Mr. Thomas Brown of Lanfine 
and Waterhaughs. I am indebted to Lord Ard- 
millan for these very interesting documents. His 
lordship, in addition to many acts of courtesy and 
kindness, has done me the honour of placing them 
entirely at my disposal : — 

February 28, 1758. — Miss Peggie Douglas, a 
daughter of the family of Mains, set out for 



Scottish Life i^ Character. 189 

Douglas Castle, and was married that night or the 
next to the Duke of Douglas. She had only a lady 
of her acquaintance from Glasgow along with her^ 
Miss Peter Craufurd. 

The Duke for a long time had been reputed to 
be of a very savage and cruel disposition. He 
killed a friend of his own^ Captain Kerr, when he 
was his guest, and lodging in the Castle of Douglas. 
He used his sister Lady Jane very badly while she 
remained with him ; and after she had left him, at 
the latter end of her days, he even let her almost 
perish for want of bread. His natural disposition 
was much inflamed by the practices of a gentleman, 
one Mr. White of Stockbrigs, who, it was said, 
gave him bad impressions of all his friends, and 
almost all the people he had business with. White 
so managed the Duke that no person was admitted 
to him without his knowledge, and no affair was 
transacted without his directions, so that it might be 
justly said that the Duke of Douglas saw with 
Stockbrigs' eyes, and heard with his ears. In this 
way was the Duke managed till Stockbrigs died. 
After that period the Duke saw more company. 
He discoursed calmly and freely, and was found by 
the generality of people not to be that frightful and 
terrible person he was represented to be, for time 
and experience had softened his temper, and the 



190 Reminiscences of 

person who stirred him up being dead he became 
quite a different man. 

The way Miss Douglas became introduced to him 
is thus : — She had a nephew, John Douglas, who was 
made a lieutenant in one of the American regiments ; 
his friends advised him to get himself introduced to 
his Chief, as the way to have himself quickly raised 
in the army. But before the lad had time to 
practice the advice, he was called to join his regi- 
ment. 

Thomas Hamilton of Overton^ or some other 
gentleman, told the Duke of the young gentleman's 
intention of waiting on his grace, and mentioned, 
by-the-by, that he had a bouncing, frolicsome, 
clever woman for his aunty. The Duke said he 
would have been glad to have seen the lad, and he 
would have been more acceptable had he brought 
his aunt along with him. 

Miss Douglas was told of this conversation, 
who immediately rigged herself up, and set out for 
the Castle of Douglas, to interest the Duke in 
favour of her young nephew. On her intending to 
visit the Duke, she wrote to Overton to meet her 
at Douglas, and to introduce her. The letter, it 
seems, miscarried, for when she came to Douglas, 
Overton was not there. The Duke being informed 
that Miss Douglas was there, sent and invited her 



Scottish Life i^ Character. 191 

to the Castle. When he saw her, he was so much 
taken with her frank easy behaviour, and the turn 
of her humour, that she became a powerful advo- 
cate for her nephew. She used great freedom, 
and told him, among a number of things, sincerely^ 
that his grace seemed to want two things to com- 
plete his happiness — a Duchess and a young Mar- 
quis. 

The next day after she had made her visit to 
the Duke, he sent a servant to her mother's house 
in the Gallowgate of Glasgow, telling her he had 
sent her a piece of plate, a silver tray, with his arms 
engraved on it, which he begged she would accept, 
and that she would favour him with another visit. 
He also told her he had sent three letters to peruse, 
to Lord Loudoun, Sir John Ligonier, and Lord 
Morton, and if there was anything he could say 
more in favour of her nephew he would alter the 
letters according to her directions. 

She went and visited him a few days after that, 
and lodged in the Castle two nights, where there 
had not been a woman for upwards of thirty years, 
except servants. It seems the marriage was agreed 
on at this interview ; for from the time the Duke 
first saw her he certainly was much in love with 
her ; but, after this visit to the time she went to 
Douglas for altogether, was taken up in continual 



192 Reminiscences of 

messages and preparations. On the 27th of Febru- 
ary, the night before she set out for Douglas^ a 
present of a silver cup, and a quantity of fine wine, 
came from the Duke to Lady Mains, and a letter, 
begging her to drink her daughter's and his health 
with the wine in that cup. 

On the 28th of February she and Miss Crau- 
furd set out for Douglas Castle, attended by four of 
the Duke's principal servants. She was received 
at the Castle by the Duke in the kindest manner, 
and next day was married by Mr. Hamilton, the 
minister of Douglas^ before several witnesses. The 
Duke is aged sixty-three, and the Duchess forty- 
four. 

Miss Douglas, now Duchess of Douglas^ is a 
well-looking, sensible, clever woman, extremely 
generous^ and a fast friend. Friendship for her 
nephew first set her on the scheme of visiting a 
man who by all the world was reckoned a woman- 
hater and next to mad. Her success with such a 
man sets her address in a very strange light. She 
was remarkable for her frolics, though the most of 
them were good-natured. It is believed she will 
make the Duke happier ; and from the ascendance 
it is natural she will have over him^ she will have 
opportunity of doing much good. The estate is 
reckoned £11^000 per annum, besides a considerable 



Scottish Life &' Character. 193 

sum of money. The Duke has behaved gallantly 
and honourably in this affair. Pains were used to 
give him bad impressions of Miss Douglas, and 
several anonymous letters were dropped for that pur- 
pose full of calumny. He enclosed one of the worst 
of them to her, saying he hoped she would consider 
them in the same light as he did ; that it was the 
envy and malice of the world, and below his regard. 

November 1758. — The Castle of Douglas was 
burned this month^ and a great many valuable 
things destroyed^ but no lives lost^ although the 
fire broke out at four of the clock in the morning, 
when all the family were in bed. The Duke and 
Duchess have now taken up their residence in the 
Palace of Holyrood House. 

March 1759. — The Duke of Douglas left his 
Duchess at Holyrood House, and went to the Mar- 
quis of Lothian's, where she followed him. The 
Duke ordered her to leave the house, which she 
refused, and was carried to her coach by force. 
The ground of the quarrel is said to be that Lady 
Jane, his sister, was supported by the Duchess in 
her determination that Archibald Douglas, her re- 
puted son, should be made his heir. He was 
persuaded that he really was not her son ; there- 
fore, all along, the Duke has shewn the greatest 
aversion to that proposal. 



1 94 Reminiscences of 

Then follows the supplement to this extract by Mr. 
Thomas Brown : — 

Mr. Hamilton^ the son of the minister of 
Douglas^ when upwards of ninety^ told me that 
when a boy he was intimate with the Duke of 
Douglas^ and was residing with him when the Earl 
of Perth came to Douglas Castle with the Pretender 
against the Duke's will. The Duke continually 
refused to comply with Lord Perthes urgent request 
to see the Pretender ; and on one occasion Mr. 
Hamilton saw him kick Lord Perth on the shins, 
so that blood came through the white silk stockings. 
Lord Perth merely said, " You will answer this one 
day;" but nothing ensued. When the unwelcome 
guests left the castle, the Duke went to a window 
whence he could see them^ and cried out with a 
load voice, which every one heard, '' Lord Perth, 
Lord Perth^ I see your Pretender. He plays a very 
poor fiddle." This was aimed at the swollen and 
bandaged legs and pimpled face of the Pretender. 

The Duke's adherence to the House of Hanover 
was supposed to have been secured by the Govern- 
ment refraining from prosecuting him for the murder 
of Captain Kerr. The Duke had been falsely in- 
formed of a purpose of marriage between Captain 
Kerr and Lady Jane Douglas, w^hich much enraged 
him. Kerr was on a visit at Douglas Castle^ 



Scottish Life <o? Character. 195 

when, on parting for the nighty he received from 
his host an affectionate salutation on each cheek. 
The Duke watched behind his bedroom door till he 
heard him snore. He then entered^ ran him through 
with a sword, and blew out his brains with a pistol. 
He then took horse to the coast, and fled first to 
Ireland, and thence to France, where he negotiated 
terms with the English Government, which enabled 
him to return to Scotland. Captain Kerr's blood 
remained on the floor of the apartment of the castle, 
and the servants used to shew it, till the Duchess, 
as was supposed, burnt the castle in November 
1758, to get rid of the scandal. 

These extracts relate to persons and events 
which have held a prominent place in Scottish 
domestic history of the last hundred years, and a 
few further notices and illustrations regarding them 
may not be unacceptable to some of my younger 
readers.^ 

The Miss Douglas who became Duchess of 
Douglas was well known in her day for her talent 
and eccentricity. She was a daughter of James 
Douglas of Mains, and we find her alluded to in 
Dr. Carlyle's autobiography. He met her at a pic- 

I Much information regarding the family Is contained in 
a memorial for Archibald Douglas against the Duke of 
Hamilton in the " Douglas cause." 4to. 1766. 



196 Reminiscences of 

nic near Hamilton, where she rallied a parish 
minister ^^ pretty roughly" (which was her way) 
^' upon his being an old fusty bachelor." The 
quotation is given in full, as it is too good to be 
spoiled by abridgment. After bearing patiently all 
the efforts of her wit^ — ^' Margaret," says he, '' you 
know that I am master of the parish register, where 
your age is recorded^ and that I know when you 
may^ with justice, be called an old maid, in spite of 
your juvenile airs." '' "What care I, Tom," said 
she, '' for I have for some time renounced your 
worthless sex ; I have sworn to be Duchess of 
Douglas, or never to mount a marriage bed." 
This happened in 1755. 

The Duke of Douglas whom she married was 
a man of ungoverned passions and of weak intellect. 
After the murder of Kerr, before alluded to, and 
on his return from abroad, he lived in great retire- 
ment, and from that period for many years he con- 
tinued to lead a solitary life in the castle of Douglas, 
where few people had access to him, and where he 
became a prey to designing and interested persons. 
Of these, White of Stockbrigs became his sole 
adviser and confidant. He appears to have had a 
most injurious influence. He had no doubt insti- 
gated the Duke to the murder of Kerr, and in every 
way was a bad companion for a weak and violent 



Scottish Life £5? Character. 197 

man. It was White's interest to keep the Duke's 
friends and relatives at a distance. Of relatives the 
Duke had an only sister, Lady Jane Douglas^ whose 
name was destined to obtain great celebrity. James, 
Marquis of Douglas died in 1700, leaving issue, 
Archibald^ late Duke of Douglas, and Lady Jane 
Douglas, both then infants. The Duke was born 
in 1694, and Lady Jane in March 1698. Lady 
Jane was brought up by her mother^ the Mar- 
chioness, in principles of the strictest piety, which 
she always retained. Her great beauty and accom- 
plishments procured her universal attention^ and an 
alliance so honourable was courted by persons of 
the first rank and fortune in this kingdom. An 
incident, however, happened at an early period in 
her life, which is now unjustly taken hold of to her 
prejudice, though her conduct was vindicated at the 
time, and was indeed the effect only of high spirit 
and perhaps uncommon sensibility. She had been 
prevailed on to listen to the addresses of a noble- 
man of distinguished rank, who solicited her in 
marriage. Everything was settled by their mutual 
friends, and the match ready to be concluded, when 
Lady Jane, who then happened to be in London^ 
was surprised one day at having her chair stopped, 
when going to Court, by a person unknown, who 
delivered her a letter, wrote in the name of her 



198 Reminiscences of 

supposed lover, signifying that he was under 
engagements to another lady, whom he had long 
been fond of, and without whom he could not be 
happy. It would have been a singular instance of 
philosophy in a young lady of her high fashion, 
and so much accustomed to admiration, had she 
submitted with patience to so cruel an affront. 
Lady Jane figured to herself that an adventure of 
this kind would soon be in the mouths of the 
world, and that she would be exposed to ridicule 
and contempt. Full of this idea she resolved to 
abandon for ever a country in which she imagined 
she could no longer pass her days with comfort ; and 
having set out privately, and in disguise^ in order to 
prevent discovery, attended only by her maid, who 
was a Frenchwoman, she went over to France, with 
a determined purpose of shutting herself up in a 
convent. Her mother, the Marchioness, soon fol- 
lowed, and came up with her before her intentions 
were fully completed. The Duke, after avenging 
the insult which had been offered to his family, by 
fighting the supposed author of it,^ went also to 
1 Can the following paragraph throw any light upon this 
transaction: — [London, March 29, 1720, Sunday Evening. 
The Duke of Douglas and the Earl of Dalkeith fought a 
duel behind Montagu House, and were both wounded. 
Newspapers of the day.] — Quoted from Chambers' " Domestic 
Annals," vol. iii. 



Scottish Life ^ Character. 199 

France in quest of his sister, and prevailed with her 
to forget what had happened, and to return to her 
native country. 

Lady Jane had often^ when in favour with her 
brother, and subsequent to her return from abroad, 
as above noticed, been pressed by him to marry. 
Addresses were made to her by several noble Lords, 
but they proved ineffectual for reasons unnecessary 
to be mentioned. In 1746, being in the forty, 
seventh year of her age, she listened to the pro- 
posals of John Stewart, Esq., afterwards Sir John 
Stewart of Grandtully^ Baronet, and was privately 
married to him, at her house near Edinburgh, on the 
4th August that year. Sir John was possessed of 
no fortune at the time, though he had a considerable 
one in expectancy. His elder brother. Sir George, 
was far advanced in life, had no issue, and was in 
a very declining state of health. Sir John had 
formerly been married to a daughter of the Honour- 
able Sir James Mackenzie of Royston, one of the 
Judges of the Court of Session, by whom he had a 
son, who became Sir John Stewart of GrandtuUy. 
On the issue of this marriage between Lady Jane 
Douglas and Sir John Stewart, a great question 
depended, viz., the succession to the whole of the 
Douglas property. On the death of the Duke in 
1761, the dukedom of Douglas was extinct. But the 



200 Reminiscences of 

Duke of Hamilton, as heir-male, succeeded to the mar- 
quisate of Douglas^ and also claimed^ as heir of line, 
succession to the great estates. This claim, however, 
to the nearest of kin, was disputed in favour of Archi- 
bald Stewart (afterwards Douglas)^ who was alleged 
to be a son of Lady Jane Douglas^ and survivor of 
twin boys born in 1748. Hence arose one of the 
most celebrated trials of modern times^ the Douglas 
Cause, — a cause which divided the opinions of the 
first lawyers of the day, and excited an interest 
throughout Europe. The circumstances were briefly 
as follows :— The Lady Jane Douglas and her hus- 
band were residing in Paris^ 1748, on the expec- 
tation of her confinement. Sir John removed her 
to the Faubourg St. Germain, where she was attend- 
ed by Pierre la Marre^ a man-midwife, and gave 
birth to twins, one of whom died, and the survivor, 
Archibald, it was alleged was heir, through his 
mother, to the Douglas property. The Duke of 
Hamilton brought the case into the Scottish courts, 
to set aside the claim on various grounds, such as 
the advanced age of Lady Jane (being fifty-one), the 
mystery of travelling about, in her situation, from 
Aix-la-Chapelle to Leige, thence to Sedan, thence to 
Rheims, and from Rheims to Paris ; and unsatisfac- 
tory evidence in the questions whether La Marre did 
attend Lady Jane for child-birth. 



Scottish Life Cs? Character. 201 

The case was ably argued at the Scottish bar : 
of the fifteen judges, seven declared in favour of 
Archibald Douglas' claim, seven declared against it. 
Lord Monboddo's speech in favour was considered 
exceedingly lucid and able. The Lord President 
gave the casting vote against the birth. The case was 
appealed to the House of Lords, and the Scottish 
judgment was reversed in 1769, chiefly under the 
influence, as was supposed, of Lord Mansfield. 

The King, George IIL, was much interested in 
the case, and evinced his opinion of it by creating 
Douglas a peer. The title was extinct in the late 
Lord Douglas, and the estates descended to his 
sister. Lady Montague. They are now held by her 
eldest daughter^ the Countess of Home. 

We have some notices of the Duchess subsequent 
to the death of her husband. The following pas- 
sage from Mr. R. Chambers' third volume of 
*' Domestic Annals of Scotland" gives a curious 
account of her Grace in her latter days : — 

^' Dr. Johnson, who met the Duchess as a 
widow at Boswell's house in 1773, speaks of her as 
an old lady who talked broad Scotch with a para- 
lytic voice, and was scarcely intelligible even to her 
countrymen. Had the Doctor seen her ten years 
earlier^ when she was in possession of all her 
faculties, he would have found how much comicality 



202 Reminiscences^ etc. 

and rough wit could be expressed in broad Scotch 
under the coif of a Duchess. I have had the 
advantage of hearing it described by the late Sir 
James Steuart of Coltness^ who was in Paris with 
her Grace in 1762, when she was also accompanied 
by a certain Laird of Boysack, and one or two 
other Scotch gentlemen, all bent on making the 
utmost of every droll or whimsical circumstance 
that came in their way. Certainly the language 
and style of ideas in which the party indulged was 
enough to make the hair of the fastest of our day 
stand on end. There was great humour one day 
about a proposal that the Duchess should go to 
Court, and take advantage of the privilege of the 
tabouret^ or right of sitting on a low stool in the 
Qiieen's private chamber, which it was alleged she 
possessed, by virtue of her late husband's ancestors 
having enjoyed a French dukedom (Touraine) in 
the fifteenth century. The old lady made all sorts 
of excuses in her homely way ; but when Boysack 
started the theory, that the real objection lay in her 
Grace's fears as to the disproportioned size of the 
tabouret for the co-relative part of her figure^ he was 
declared^ amidst shouts of laughter, to have divined 
the true difficulty — her Grace enjoying the joke fully 
as much as any of them. Let this be a specimen 
of the mate of the last of the House of Douglas." 



CONCLUSION. 




THINK it is now time that I should 
close this collection of miscellaneous 
anecdotes and illustrative stories regard- 
ing Scottish habits and manners. I am quite pre- 
pared to admit that I was led to engage in » the 
work from the deep interest I have long felt in 
everything Scotch ; but at the same time I do not 
admit that I am blind to the faults of those I love ; 
neither would I ascribe every virtue under heaven 
to Scotchmen, nor assert that every earthly advan- 
tage belonged to Scotland. I may not be so 
unwilling to admit any inferiority without a reserve^ 
as was a countryman who, when eating grapes in 
the south of England^ produced in the open air, and 
ripened only by the Kentish sun, being asked if as 
good grapes were produced in Scotland, readily 
answered^ " Ay, just as gude, but then I must 
premeese I prefare them some sourer T 

We are far from upholding the perfection of 



204 Reminiscences of 

our country, nor is it our office to refute all the 
charges which may be brought against our country- 
men ; our Reminiscences of Scotland will no doubt 
at times bring before us points of national character 
in which we may discern marks of moral deteriora- 
tion and indications of departure from ancient sim- 
plicity of manners. We mourn over the continued 
prevalence, and, we fear, in some cases, the increase 
of those intemperate habits which have taken such 
deep root in the population both of our towns and 
rural districts. But then our love is not abated by 
sorrow for such deterioration^ and we are only the 
more anxious to see such faults corrected. Whisky 
especially is the evil spirit whom we desire to see 
old Scotia CAST out. Of course, where men 
and women live in crowded habitations, often with 
uncertain means of subsistence — and amongst whom 
there is a constant influx of English and Irish 
labourers^, badly, if at all, educated, of unsettled and 
dissipated habits — the results will be a demoralised 
condition of society. But that the standard of 
morals in our country districts is at a lower point 
than the morals of English country districts, we 
would strenuously deny^ and I am prepared to shew, 
although this is not the place, that certain moral 
statistics do not convey an accurate comparative 
estimate with England — and I am well acquainted 



Scottish Life & Character. 205 

with the condition of English country parishes in 
these matters. No man who has a heart to feel 
and a mind to estimate the evils of impurity and 
crime, but must entertain the deepest sorrow for the 
sin that pervades the whole land ; but the northern 
standard of morals is not below the standard of the 
southern portion ; and there are points on which we 
may fearlessly challenge for our countrymen a fair 
comparison. The agricultural districts of Scotland 
have never experienced the alarm which the sense- 
less malignity of the midnight incendiary has at 
times spread through the English counties. I never 
heard of Scottish children being murdered for the 
wretched bribe of the premium paid to the parents 
as members of a burial club— a practice which had 
at one time in England amongst manufacturers 
become almost an organised system. In no rural 
district in Scotland would the scenes of rude 
violence and drunken revelry be witnessed on a 
Sabbath evening, which I have known too common 
in the west of England. 

But there is a point of comparison between our 
country and our southern neighbours^ now becom- 
ing a matter of history^ and regarding which I think 
there has been considerable misapprehension — I 
mean the question of religious division. The remin- 
iscences even of young persons can now embrace a 



2o6 Reminiscences of 

great event, which has distinguished the religious 
annals of Scotland. The Established Church has 
been divided nearly into two equal parts, and two- 
thirds of the Scottish parishes have within a period 
of ten years been^ each of them, provided with an 
additional church, manse^ and school-house, as if the 
wand of a necromancer had passed over the land 
and made a second church to spring from the earth. 
To effect this change, large sums of money have 
been raised by the party seceding from the church 
of their fathers, and a contribution in ten years of 
nearly three millions sterling has attested the sin- 
cerity and generous self-denial of the members of 
the Free Church of Scotland. From these circum- 
stances our country has been referred to as in a 
state of frightful disunion as regards religious 
questions, and as exhibiting the most painful picture 
of division and of disorganisation. No doubt there 
is much difference of opinion amongst us, and much 
acerbity of feelings which may be traced up to un- 
happy disputes belonging to ecclesiastical matters. 
And no thoughtful mind can observe what is going 
on amongst us without sad and sorrowful reflection 
regarding these points before him^ or without earnest 
prayer for unity and peace. But how stands the case 
of our religious divisions in comparison with England ? 
I believe a great portion of the church of England to 



Scottish Life (£ Character. 207 

be perfectly sound in the faith of the Reformation, 
at once Scriptural and Protestant. I believe England 
contains the purest specimen on earth of evangelical 
truth combined with apostolical order. But we 
cannot conceal from ourselves that, as a nation, 
England is more deeply marked by, strictly speaking, 
religious division than Scotland. Take, in the first 
place, the obvious division between the Church of 
England and the great body of Dissenters from her 
polity and ritual. What a separation is made in 
the social system by this nonconformity ! In Wales, 
and in certain other localities, the Church of Eng- 
land is in a sorrowful minority. Then note the 
divided condition of the church itself — divisions, let 
it be remarked, not in opinions regarding the exter- 
nals of religion, the forms of church government, or 
the connection between the civil and ecclesiastical 
relations of members of that church. But the 
divisions are on points affecting, as we believe, the 
essential doctrines of Christianity, the method of man's 
acceptance and justification, the efficacy of sacra- 
ments in the work of man's salvation. Upon these 
and similar great fundamental questions, the Church 
of England is divided — we fear with little prospect of 
her being speedily united. There is the extreme High 
Church or Puseyite party ; the extreme Low Church 
or Evangelical party ; there is the via media Church 



2o8 Reminiscences of 

or Moderate party ; there Is the Broad Church or 
Philosophical party. So distinct and separate are 
these sections of the Church of England^ that in 
all advertisements or negotiations regarding the sup- 
ply of vacancies in any situations implying cure of 
souls, the party to which the applicant belongs must 
be stated as distinctly as if persons had to deal with 
members of different communions. ♦ 

But there are worse features of church division 
than these. No one can calmly look upon what is 
going on within the pale of the Church of England 
and not feel an apprehension as if the boundary lines 
between positive truth and error, between the private 
opinions of individuals and the doctrines propounded 
by the formulas of the churchy were in danger of 
being obscured or obliterated ! 

In one direction we see a publication of treatises 
on religious questions by a layman and six clergy- 
men of the churchy of whom one holds a pastoral 
charge, and others hold important positions con- 
nected with the universities and high places of 
education, which have been thus referred to, in an 
answer to an address from the clergy, by the Arch- 
bishop of Canterbury and signed by all the English 
prelates : — " I have taken the opportunity of meet- 
ing many of my Episcopal brethren in London to 
lay your address before them. They unanimously 



Scottish Life ^ Character. 209 

agree with me in expressing the pain it has given 
them that any clergyman of our church should have 
published such opinions as those concerning which 
you have addressed us. We cannot understand 
how their opinions can be held consistently with an 
honest subscription to the formularies of our church, 
with many of the fundamental doctrines of which 
they appear to us essentially at variance." 

In another direction we see the introduction of 
opinions^ and of ritual observances which many 
persons find great difficulty to distinguish from 
doctrines and practices characteristic of the Church 
of Rome. 

Indeed such differences are with many persons 
now neither preserved nor acknowledged^ and men 
are found to palter with themselves and others in a 
double sense — they do not join the communion of 
the Church of Rome, they are not faithful to the 
principles of the Anglican Church to which they 
profess still to belong. But the stealthy growing 
tendencies towards Rome, which have long seemed 
to me so obvious and insidious^ have now reached 
their culminating point, and are avowed without con- 
cealment or disguise. The line is fairly passed, and 
union with Rome is openly advocated by a section 
of the Church of England. A periodical has taken 
such ground without compromise or equivocation. 



210 Reminiscences of 

Opinions are there maintained which in former times 
would have been considered utterly incompatible 
with Anglican churchmanship ; as, for example, the 
supremacy of the chair of St. Peter in the Christian 
world ; the duty of Anglican priests and laymen 
studying and attending mass when on the Continent ; 
the Catholic authority for the doctrine of the imma- 
culate conception ; the duty of prayer to the Virgin 
Mary for her intercession and influence with her 
Son ; observing Romish feasts and festivals, and 
prayers to the saints of the Romish calendar; the 
practising to the full extent periodical confession and 
absolution; a condemnation of the doctrine of justi- 
fication by faith as heretical and soul destroying ; 
administration of the holy communion to the sick 
under one element ; the use of crossings, of holy 
water, incense, hair shirts, chasubles, cope^ etc. etc. 
What may be the numerical estimate of the party 
whose feelings and opinions are represented by this 
periodical^ I have no means of knowing, but I con- 
clude that it must require zeal and interest to be 
excited in a considerable number in order to main- 
tain a periodical at all, and it is evident in this case 
that conductors and contributors are not wanting. 
The work is not done by ignorant uninformed men. 
There are learning, spirit, and energy brought to 
bear upon the great point they advocate, which is 



Scottish Life ^ Character. 211 

a far closer approximation to Romish opinions and 
practices than have ever yet with any party prevailed 
within the Church of England ; at any rate, its suc- 
cess is quite sufficient to justify the apprehension I 
have all along entertained, that the tendency of ex- 
treme high church opinions has been to sympathize 
with Romish views, and to an abandonment of what 
is essentially Protestant. Now, what is the state of 
matters in Scotland as compared with these things 
in England ? With all our divisions and differences 
of opinion, we have nothing corresponding to the 
" Essays and Reviews/' and had such a volume 
appeared amongst us, written by clergymen of similar 
position in the country, I feel confident that public 
measures would have quickly been taken for a 
judicial condemnation of men who were violating 
the standards and authorities of the church to which 
they professed to belong. In regard to questions 
which affect the great and fundamental doctrines of 
our holy faith, I trust such opinions as those openly 
avowed by a section of the Church of England 
are not even knonvn in Scotland, except as held by 
honest and consistent members of the Church of 
Rome. Indeed, it is very remarkable that there is 
in Scotland a far nearer approach to doctrinal unifor- 
mity than exists in England. The whole Presby- 
terian body, composed of the Established Church, 



212 Reminiscences of 

the Free Churchy the United Presbyterians, etc., 
all adopt one standard of doctrine, and^ so far as I 
know, vary little in their interpretation of its teach- 
ing. The Confession of Faith unites the great 
mass of the Scottish population in a code of theolo- 
gical opinions not essentially differing from the 
thirty-nine articles of the Church of England. 
Surely, then, there need be no insuperable obstacle 
to a great union of Protestants in Scotland, which 
shall form a permanent and solid bulwark, on the 
one hand, against the introduction of lax opinions 
of the German school — on the other hand, against 
the encroachments of theology from the school of 
Rome — a Protestant community, with opinions dif- 
fering, it may be in matters of detail, but all recog- 
nizing the great principles of the Reformation. The 
difficulties to be overcome, and the differences to be 
adjusted for union between the Established and 
Free Churches belong to points of a civil nature, to 
patronage and to state interference with matters 
ecclesiastical ; delicate questions no doubt ! but not 
so hopeless as questions of union on matters of 
doctrine and on the eucharistical theory. Of course, 
as an Episcopalian, I should rejoice to see all parties 
united in government under the rule of bishops, 
and in worship under such a liturgy as the prayer 
book. Without considering episcopacy essential to 



Scottish Life ^ Character. 213 

the constitution of a Christian churchy still less to 
the salvation of individuals, still I do think that 
the pure scriptural order and devotional character 
of the holy faith which we profess are best called 
forth and more fully developed under Episcopal 
government and liturgical worship, and that under 
these, church organizations have been produced, the 
highest^ the purest^ and the most loving Christian cha- 
racters. But as a Christian and as a Scotchman^ I 
should rejoice to see the great religious bodies of 
Scotland now at one on points of doctrine^ joined 
together in one external communion. I cannot help 
thinking that a council of twenty or twenty-five 
persons might be named, taken from different sections 
of the great body, who could devise a scheme of 
amity and concord. My soul so earnestly desires 
to see unity amongst professing Christians, that I 
would pray for a junction of all parties, Episcopalian, 
Presbyterian, or Independent, on some broad Scrip- 
ture basis which might be recognized by all. But 
if that is utterly hopeless, I would value unity 
amongst those with whom I cannot myself unite, 
except in love for a common Bible and a common 
Saviour. In whatever way Christian truth is held, 
and Christ is preached, '' I therein do rejoice, yea, 
and will rejoice." Such was St. Paul's determina- 
tion, and such is mine. 



2 1 4 Reminiscences of 

I now finally take my leave of these ^^ Remin- 
iscences of Scottish Life and Character^" not be- 
cause I think the subject has been exhausted,- or 
that fresh fields of inquiry might not be opened ; 
but having accomplished the particular object I had 
in view, I would now leave to others to collect 
further materials for elucidating the manners and 
habits of our grandfathers. To one at all advanced in 
years^ the retrospect of life is but a melancholy office^ 
and suggests many painful topics for his reflection. 
The changes which he marks in the world around 
him. The sad blanks which time has made in his 
own social circle, remind him very forcibly of the 
marked uncertainties of an earthly condition , and 
when, during the same period, he is called upon to 
notice how greatly manners, customs^ and language 
have themselves been altered, the world in which 
he now lives seems scarcely the same world as that 
which he can remember. I have in this and a 
former volume retraced many footprints of the past, 
and I can truly say it is the love of my country 
which has induced me to dwell so long and so 
minutely upon certain peculiarities by which I can 
myself remember it to have been more marked 
and more distinguished than it is at present. The 
task, perhaps, will be called a useless one, — the 
labour to no good end. Why, it may be asked, 



Scottish Life ^ Character. 215 

retain any longer a memory of these national pecu- 
liarities ? Scotland has become a portion of a great 
empire ; she is not now a separate nation, but has 
become part of a nation more powerful and dis- 
tinguished than anything recorded in her own past 
history. She has lost her individuality, and must be 
satisfied to take that integral position for evermore. 
It may be so ; but this I humbly think offers no 
reason why we should forget our former national 
greatness and independence. We know that Scot- 
land once formed a distinct kingdom from England, 
and as we can still point to a remnant of a Regalia 
which belonged to a separate and independent 
Crown, memory will cling to peculiarities which still 
tell of a separate and independent People. The 
day may come when all peculiarities of dialect^ 
customs, and manners will be obsolete, but I trust 
the day will never come when Scotchmen will 
forget the high and sterling character of 

*' Scots wha hae wi' Wallace bled, 
Scots wham Bruce has aften led." 

Scotchmen (at least such as are worthy of the name) 
have always been noted for their love of country. 
In distant lands and under foreign skies they have 
felt the same emotions as those which are said to 
impart to the hardy Swiss the maladie du pays^ and 



2i6 Reminiscences of 

on St. Andrew's day's celebration they have, like 
the scattered homeless Israelites^ been ready to 
exclaim^ ^^ If I forget thee, Oh Jerusalem^ let my 
right hand forget her cunning," 

There is something quite touching in the attach- 
ment of Scotchmen to the old Scottish ways and 
remembrances of their early days, when awakened 
by Scottish associations of anniversaries, poetry^ or 
song. No example of this feeling has ever struck 
me more than the storv told of old Lord Lovat, 
which is amongst the many touching anecdotes which 
are traditionary of his unfortunate period. On his 
return from the trial at Westminster Hall, where 
he had been condemned to death for his adherence 
to the Stuart cause, he saw out of the coach window 
a woman selling the sweet yellow gooseberries, 
which recalled the associations of youth in his 
native country. '' Stop a minute," cried the old 
scoffer, who knew his days on earth were num- 
bered ; ^' stop a minute, and gie me a ha'porth of 
honey blohs^'^ as if he had gone back in fond recollec- 
tion to his schoolboy days in the High Street of 
Edinburgh, when honey blobs had been amongst 
the pet luxuries of his young life. 

Independent of personal feelings, it must always 
be interesting to mark the features which distinguish 
one people from another, or to note the causes 



Scottish Life ^ Character. 217 

which are rendering those distinctions less prominent 
and less striking than they once were ; and if we 
are destined soon to lose all indications of a 
national existence, let us note, ere they vanish^ the 
lingering traces of our past individuality. We do 
no wrong surely in cherishing our love for Scot- 
land, or in retaining a deep interest in all that is 
still left to Scotland. A Scotchman may have his 
pride and boast in being a countryman of those who 
won the fields of Agincourt and Cressy, but with- 
out losing the deeper recollection of being a de- 
scendant of those who fought at Bannockburn and 
Flodden. His heart will swell when he sees the 
great and noble of the land pass before him deco- 
rated with the blue ribbon and the garter of that 
ancient order of knighthood^ the St. George of 
England. But does there not spring up a warmer 
interest when his eye rests upon the green ribbon 
and the thistle badge of poor Scotland's order of 
St. Andrew ? A Scotchman may pay all due 
homage to the genius of a Shakspeare, a Milton, a 
Gibbon^ and yet indulge a more home and heartfelt 
pride in the literary achievements of a Buchanan, 
a Walter Scott, and a Macaulay. Nor do religious 
differences quench the national feelings of a Scotch- 
man towards the piety and the stern sincerity of 
Presbyterian Scotland. If an Episcopalian (ay, 



2 1 8 Reminiscences of 

and a zealous devoted Episcopalian)^ -u'hilst he 
reveres and cherishes the memory of Cranmer, of 
Latimer, and Ridley — that noble band of bishops 
and archbishops, of laymen and clergymen, who 
reformed the Church of England — he can still do 
justice to the labours of the bold and fearless Knox^ 
who, like Luther, had in difficult and trying times 
to fight almost single-handed for the Protestant 
faith and Protestant Church, and will honour the 
memory of Andrew Melville^ who^ like Melancthon, 
aided that work in a gentler spirit, and engaged in 
the cause with a more tender heart. No true- 
hearted Scotchman, who^ as an Episcopal Church- 
man, venerates the character of such men as 
Andrews and Ken, Taylor and Hooker of the 
English Churchy will ever fail to pay his tribute of 
affection and respect to the old Scottish elder of a 
simpler creed, or ever cease to feel a Scotchman's 
national pride in the stern and unbending piety of 
men who maintained, at the hazard of life and pro- 
perty, the Covenant which they had signed with 
their blood. We feel assured that such feelings 
and such emotions are, in their tendencies, favour- 
able to the human character. 

But we go further than this. We are disposed 
to say there is a deficiency in that mind — a nvant in 
that temperament and disposition, where no respon- 



Scottish Life i^ Character, 219 

sive feelings are called forth at the name of country, 
— where no emotions of pride are awakened at a 
remembrance of its former triumphs and its past 
glories^ — where no indignation attends a sense of its 
wrongs^ — and no sorrow is poured forth for its 
humiliation. We have at least the authority of our 
own Walter Scott for this opinion. In the often- 
quoted passage from the " Lay," with what energy 
he pours forth his contempt for one so utterly 
selfish ! With what earnest and scornful feeling 
does his minstrel ask the question — 

" Breathes there the man with soul so dead, 
Who never to himself hath said, 
This is my own, my native land ! 
Whose heart hath ne'er within him burn'd, 
As home his footsteps he hath turn'd, 
From wandering on a foreign strand ! '' 

With deep indignation does he return the answer 
which he thinks such a character deserves — 

*' If such there breathe, go mark him well, 
For him no minstrel raptures swell 5 
High though his titles, proud his name. 
Boundless his wealth as wish can claim 5 — 
Despite those titles, power, and pelf. 
The wretch, concentered all in self, 
Living, shall forfeit fair renown. 
And, doubly dying, shall go down 
To the vile dust from whence he sprung. 
Unwept, unhonoured, and unsung." 



220 Reminiscences of 

Such language^ it may be said, is the effusion 
of poetical enthusiasm ; and belongs rather to the 
departments of fancy and imagination than to those 
of reason and the actual business of life. But, let 
it be remembered, genuine poetry will ever draw its 
best appeals and its most stirring inspirations from 
the truths and realities of human existence. Scott 
was a true poet ; but no man took more sagacious 
views of life and character — no man more acutely 
marked the peculiarities of his fellow-creatures and 
fellow-countrymen. In this case his language is in 
accordance with experience. He touches upon 
patriotism as a virtue and excellence of our nature, 
and as leading men to what is good. 

Love of country must, in this way, naturally 
tend to make men cherish a desire for its welfare 
and improvement. To claim kindred with the 
honourable and high-minded, as in some degree 
allied with them, must imply at least an appreciation 
of great and good qualities. Whatever supplies 
men with a motive for following upright and noble 
conduct — whatever advances in them a kindly 
spirit of benevolence towards fellow-creatures in 
distress — whatever promotes an increasing spirit of 
charity and forbearance towards sincere and earnest 
Christians of a creed differing from their own — 
whatever stimulates men to enrich their country by 



Scottish Life ^ Character, 221 

institutions favourable to the cultivation of science, 
literature, art, and social economy, of moral and 
religious instruction — must have a beneficial effect 
upon the hearts and intellects of a Christian people 
— and these objects are, I think, all more or less 
fostered and encouraged under the influence of that 
patriotic spirit which identifies national honour and 
national distinction with its own. 



INDEX, 



' A' BODY kens that when I got ye for my wife, I got nae beauty. Yer frien's 
ken that I got nae siller ; and if I dinna get God's grace, I shall hae a 
puir bargain indeed,' 13. 

A deviled turkey, 52. ^ . 

A Roland for an Oliver, 59. 

' A ! what it is to be wise ! to ken it's no a meer's shoe !' iii. 

Aberdeen Bailie in London, 76. 

Aberdeen Provost's dinner-party, 185. 

Aberdeenshire Roman Catholic Priest, 15. 

Adam, Chief-Commissioner, 183. 

'Ah, but, Mr. M'Cubbin, what think ye ? ' 98. 

' Aigh, it's sair cheenged times at Castle Grant, when gentlemens can gang 
to bed on their ain feet ! ' 36. 

Alexander, Dr. W. Lindsay, 45. 

Anderson of Whitbury, 186. 

Anecdote of the battle of Preston, 62. 

Anecdote of Dr. Poole and the servant girl, 51. 

Anecdote of Dr. Lockhart of Glasgow, 33. 

Anecdote of John Stewart, elder in the parish church of Straiton, Ayrshire, 24. 

Anecdote of Mrs. Grant of Kilgraston and her servant, 49. 

Anecdote of the elder of the kirk at Muthill, 26. 

Anecdote of the Glasgow shoemaker and his wife, 7. 

Anecdote regarding the herd of swine in the Gospel, 31. 

' Angel worship is not allowed in the Church of Scotland,' 19. 

' Anither gude Sunday ! I dinna ken when I'll get thae drawers red up,' 15. 

' Annals of the Parish,' 28. 

An old fusty bachelor, 196. 



224 Index. 



Antiquated Scottish pulpit ministrations, 9. 
Ardmillan, Lord, contribution from, 188-197. 

* Are ye no Rabbie H 's man ?' 158. 

Attendance by clergymen at theatrical representations, 26-28. 

Attendance of parish idiots at funerals, 109. 

Auld, Rev, Dr., of A>t, and Rab Hamilton, 114, 115. 

*A-weel, a-weel, that may be the case, but ye maun prescribe some other 

method for me to get quit o' the sair throat ; for ye ken, doctor, I canna 

adopt that cure,' 60. 

* Ay, ay, Jemmie ; I see by your face ye 're leeing,' 157. 

* Ay ! Ir ye a' up and awa ? ' 4. 

* Ay, just as gude, but then I must premeese I prefare them some sourer^ 203. 

* Ay, she may prosper, for she has baith the prayers of the good and the bad, 

56. 

* A}^, yon beast kens weel it is the Sabbath day,' 14. 

Balgray, Lord, 157. 

Balmuto, Lord, 157, 159, 164. 

Balnamoon, the Laird of, loi. 

Bannatyne, Lord, 159. 

Barclaj^, Dr., 63, 175. 

Barclay, Mr., of Ury, 153. 

Barnard, Lady Anne, 83. 

Beauties and blemishes of a Scottish Communion Sabbath, 141. 

Bedral, anecdote of, 1790, 99. 

* Bell, 'oman, turn back an' gie me yer bit fuppie, for the breet's stannin' i' 

the peel \vi' ma,' 186. 
Bellman story, 121. 
Betherel stories, 121-123. 

Blair, Rev. Mr., of Dunblane, 93 ; contribution of, 124-129. 
Blair, Dr. Hugh, and Soph Johnston, 85. 

Blair, Rev. Robert,' minister of St. Andrews, and King Charles IL, 127. 
Body-lifters, or all-night men, 133. 
Boggendreep, 72. 
*■ Boitdagers,'' 168. 

Boswell, Mr., of Balmuto, anecdote of, 34. 
Braxfield, Lord, 154. 

Brown, John, of Waterhaughs, Ayrshire, 188. 
Brown, Mr. Thomas, of Lanfine and Waterhaughs, 188, 
Brown, Rev. John, of Haddington, 128. 



Index. 225 



Burial-place in Edinburgh, mentioned by Sir Walter Scott in ' Guy Manner- 

ing/ 2. 
Bums, -Robert, 141. 
' But, Captain, whaur's Miss Ketty ?' 37. 

* But isna he a queer raan, that doctor ; he'll neither speak to God nor man,' 

125. 
^ But, lordsake, laird, will no the world see hi7)t V 91. 
' But oh, please talc a brog, and prod him weel, and let the wind out o' him,' 59. 

Caleb Longbottom. xxiv. 

Campbell, Sir Hay, Lord President, 159. 

' Canny,' 177, 178. 

* Carlyle's Memoirs,* 33. 
Carlyle, Dr., 26, 27. 
Camegy, Miss, of Craigo, 181. 

* Carry any ladies that call up stairs,' 15. 
Carters' or Whipman's play, 169-172. 
*Cauld airn,' 31. 

* Cauld kail het again/ 21. 

Celebration of the Lord's Supper in country parishes, 138-146. 

Cemeteries, 132. 

Chambers' Domestic Annals, 168 Jtote^ 198 note^ 201. 

* Charlotte aye helps hersel to the kettle,' 77. 
Church discipline in the Presbytery of Lanark, 11. 
Clark, Mr., of Dalreoch, and Mr. Dunlop, 125. 
Clason, Rev. Dr., xvii ; Reminiscences of, 131-146. 

Clerk's, John, translation of the motto of the Celtic Club, 95 ; anecdote of, 97. 

Clerk, Mary Lady, 86-88. 

Cockburn, Lord, and the shepherd, 8 ; 82. 

' Come back, Jock, and let in the noble family of ,' 20. 

* Come, noo, an' I'se mak ye a' richt !' 126. 
Confession of Faith, 212. 

Cook, Dr., of Haddington, 22, 60. 

Cook, Dr., of St. Andrews, 125. 

' Corbies winna pike out corbies' een,' 74. 

Corehouse, Lord, 150. 

Courtship of the Duke of Douglas and Miss Peggie Douglas, 188-192. 

Craig, Lord, 159, ^63. 

Craigie, Rev. Mr., of St. Fergus, and Jamie Fleeman, in. 

Craufurd, Miss Peter, 189. 



226 Index. 

Gumming, Dr. Patrick, 40. 

Cure for a sore throat, 60. 

Custom of precentors repeating the lines of the psalm before they were sung, 

20. 
Custom of the minister bowing to the heritors in the front gallery seats, 17. 
' Cut off mine to-morrow morning when I dress,' 150. 

Dale, David, 48. 

' Dear Molly Dacre,' 87. 

Death of Mrs. Dunlop, 105. 

* Deed, sir, I was just ga'en to observe I thocht there was a smell o' speerits 

amang its this mornin' ! ' 69. 

* Deed, sir, if I 'm no mista'en, I sa ' thirdly and lastly,' fa our the poopit 

stairs,' 175. 
Deeside farmer and the bottle of vinegar, 124. 

* Deevil choke them,' 124. 

' Deil a length o' my tae,' 76. 

* Deil a speen was i' ma mou' a' the time I was awa,' 76. 
Destruction of the Cutt^' Stool, 12. 

Dewar, David, and the prison chaplain, 91, 

Dialects of England, xxvi. 

Diamond Beetle case, 159. 

' Dinna come ower, for your guide's no sae trusty as mine,' 131. 

* Do I look as like a fool in my pigtail as Billy Cream does ?' 149. 
Domestic Annals, 168 note. 

* Donald, I dinna think thae lads would stan' us,' 184. 
Douglas Cause, 201. 

Douglas, Duke of, 188, 191. 

Douglas, Lady Jane, 197, 200. 

Douglas, Miss Peggie, of Mains, 188. 

Dr. Bonum Magnum, 40. 

Drinking habits at funerals, 37. 

Drummond of Keltie and his tight inexpressibles, 182. 

Dunbar, Sir Archibald, 55. 

Dundrennan, Lord, and the basket-woman, 116. 

Dunlop, Rev. Walter, of Dumfries, and his presents, 102-104, 124, 125. 

Dunmore, Lord, and his //"f^/^//, 149. 

' D'ye think, sir, I dinna ken my ain groats in ither folk's kail ?' 93. 

* Eat crappit heads for supper last night, and was the waur o't,' 64. 



Index, 227 



Edinburgh water-carts, 79. 

* Ees it be ; but she han't gotten in't troompet poips,' xxix. 

' Eh, if I could win at him, I wud rax the banes o' him,' 107. 

* Eh ? ye haveril, is it the fashion for them 710 to go 071 ? ' 182. 
EmbeUishment of churchyards and cemeteries, 2, 3. 
Employment of blacksmiths and gardeners as medical men, 134. 
Erskine, Harr>^, and Sir W. Scott, 95. . 

Essays and Reviews, 209-211. 

' Fa fuppit the lawdy,' 75. 

' Faith there '11 soon be mair hats nor heads,' 92. 

* Father Abraham, how are you to-day ? ' 90. 

* Feather and grandfeather did it afore,' xxxiii. 
Fencing the tables, 10. 

Fergusson, James, Clerk of Session, 64. 
Fife, Lord, and his idiot retainer, 112. 
' Formerly rubbers, noo thieves,' 95. 

* Frae the ire o' the Drummonds, glide Lord, deliver us,* 73. 
Free Church of Scotland, 206. 

Funeral customs in Carluke in 1790, 99. 

Galloway lairds, 39. 

Gardenstone, Lord, 148 ; his pet pig, 150 ; his love of snuff, 150. 

' Garskadden's been wi' his Maker these twa hours,' 42. 

* Gentlemen, I thenk ye for the mug,' 66. 

Gillespie, Rev, W., U. P. minister of Mary's Chapel, 167 

' Gin onybody asks if I got a dram after 't, what will I say ?' 113. 

' Give a Chartist a large estate, and a copious supply of ready money, and you 

make a Conservative of him,' 177. 
Glasgow first regiment of volunteers, 184. 

' God bless yer guse-like face, for a Deuk's no gude eneuch for ye,' 57. 
' God speed them weel,' xxiii. 
Gordon, Hon. General, of Fyvie, 67. 
Gordon, Priest, 15. 

Gordon, Mr., of Rothy, and Jock Muilton, 116. 
Grant, Colonel, 36. 
Grame, Mr., of Garsock, 181. 
Gregory, Mr., of Banchory, 21. 
Greig, Rev. Mr., of Chapel of Garioch, 108. 



228 Index. 



Habit of naming individuals from lands in their occupation or possession, 71. 
Habits of snuffing and smoking, 42. 

* Had it no been for the fashion 0' the thing, I micht as weel hae been on my 

ain feet,' 118. 

* Hae ye ony coonsel, man ? ' 155. 

* Hae,' 44. 

Hats in the Episcopal Chapel of Laurencekirk, 148. 

' Hech, sir, but ye've made thae yins shift their quarters,' 93. 

* He nearly kicket me ower his head, sae I pat him in there just to pnnish 

him,' 179. 
Hermand, Lord, 35, 156, 159, 162. 
' He smells damnably of the halbert,' 119. 
' He's ane o' my poor roll ; I gied him a shilling just last Sabbath,' 126. 

* He said the Lord could hae had little to do when he made me,' 50. 

* He's just back the road there a bit, choking some geese till a man,' 125. 

* He turned Seceder afore he de'ed, an' I buried him like a beast,' 16. 
Heugh, Rev. John, of Stirling, 127. 

' He was drowned i' the Red Sea,' 70. 
Highland literal obedience to orders, 50. 
' Hirsle yont,' 75. 
Hogg, Mr., of Kirkmahoe, 24. 

* Holy fair,' 146. 
Home, John, 33. 

* Hope, Charles, Lord President, 183. 

* Hoo lang do you think it is since I was last in this hoose ? Just aughty-twa 

years !' 187. 
' Hoot, jabbering bodies, wha could tmderstan' them,' 81. 

* Hoot o fie, hoot o fie, John ; would you have the young folk strip to the 

serk ?' 101. 

* Hoot, she's i' the kirkyard,' 174. 

* Hout, he canna speak ; he means fau too, fau too,' 185. 

* Hout, my lady, what would he be duin' wi* an arm chair ; he's just deein' 

fast awa ? ' 5. 
Hume, David, 33. 
Huntly, Lord, and Captain Innes of the Guards, 92. 

* I AM going to send the young laird abroad,' 91. 

' I am Saul, the son of Kish, seeking his father's asses,' 90. 

* T am the hangman of Stirling, sir,' 176. 

' I aye keepit the house for him, whether he was hame or awa',' 47. 



Index. 229 



* I can bear ony pairtings that may be ca'ed for in God's providence ; but I 

canna stan' pairting frae ma claes',' 80. 
' I can't eatun, zur, it be soa vinny, xxix. 

* I debar all those who use such minced oaths as faith ! troth ! losh ! gosh ! 

and lovanenty !' 10. 
' I don't like, I tell you, to be so herded^ 67. 

* I doot some o' ye ha'e ta'en owre mony whey porridge the day,' 105. 
' If a' tales be true that's nae lee,' 76. 

' I fell all my length,' 49. 

* If he could do such a thing when he was drunk, what might he not have 

done when he was sober,' 26. 

* If I am spared,' 60. 

' If it were a minister or an elder body, I could name plenty,' 69. 

* If the French land at Ayr, there will soon be plenty of Volunteers up at 

Cumnock,' 95. 

* If the parritch-pan gangs at that, what will the kail-pat gang forf 62. 

' If ye dinna ken whan ye've a gude servant, I ken whan I've a gude 
place,' 45. 

* If ye had been a sheep ye would ha'e had mair sense,' 8. 

* If ye 're dead I'll no expect ye,' 60. 

* If you had tried my plan, and come doon to your knees, ye wad maybe hae 

come mair speed ! ' 128. 
Ignorance of the small farmers in the west of England, xxxii. 

* I hae buried an auld wife, and I've just drucken her, hough and horn,' 

123. 
' I haen't it noo ; but I'll lat ye see the cloutie it was roivH in for a baiubee^ 
178. 

* I keep a'thing in my shop but calf's tether pins and paper sermons for 

ministers to read,' 128. 
' I like thae sermons best that jumbles the joodgement,' 177. 
' I'll be in on Monanday, God willin' and weather permittin', an' on Tiseday 

fit her or nOy 57. 
' I '11 draw to a close in the prayer when I hear the haam fizzin,' 103. 

* Ill-fa' ard,' 75. 

' I'll hae tae gie ye a day's hearing for this, na', 180. 

* I'll hang ye a* at the price,' 108. 

* I '11 tak the wee ane,' 115. 
Illumination in Edinburgh in 1786, 92. 

' I maun just gae doun to the garden and say mi bit wordies,' 16. 



230 Index. 



* I maun tak ' hame the process, and wamble it in my wame a wee, and syne 

ye'se hae an interlocutor,' 96. 
' I may be a ram's-horn preacher, but it was the rams' horns that brought 
down the walls of Jericho !' xxxvii. 

* I 'm awfu' tired wi' carryin', 120. 

* I 'm mending the ways of Bathgate,' 127. 

* I 'm thinking yon windy chiel' '11 no tell muckle that you and I said till 

him,' 66. 

* I 'm unco yuckie to hear a blaud o' yer gab,' 55. 

* Indeed, mem, ay, sae it is ; for ye see the gude lad's winding sheet was 

ower lang, and I cut afif as muckle as made twa bonny mutches,' 6. 

* Indeed, my leddy, they lay every day, no excepting the blessed Sabbath,' 

14. 

* Indeed, sir, they were saying ye had preached an auld sermon to-day,' 21. 

* I never big dykes till the tenants complain,' 94. 

* I never could raise a man for mysel', and I 'm no gaen to raise men for 

King George,' 80. 
Inglis, Mr., clerk of Court of Session, 91. 
Innes, Captain, of the Guards, 92. 

* I only want an interpreter to make me understand what your Lordship 

says,' 156. 
Irish Roscommon ' Tay-boy,' 61. 

* / renounce them ally xxxi. 

* I saw him step awa', but I didna like to disturb gude company,' 42. 
' I say, as ye coom'd, did ee see out ont mear, doon't lonen?' xxvii. 

* I say. Bill, wharst thee boun ?' xxvi. 
' I soupit the poupit,' 44. 

* I think, mistress, a cheese in the ither en' wad mak a gran' balance,' 104. 

* I thought I'd lost the minister a'thegither,' 79. 
Itinerant tailors, 136. 

* It is cannier to fleech a fool than to fecht him,' 76. 

* It just put me in min' o' our geese at Dunjarg, when they turn their nebs 

to the south an' clap their wings when they see the rain 's comin' after 
lang drouth,' 30. 

* It maj^ be sae wi' the meal, but I took care o' the saxpence mysel',' 179. 

* I told them they were a pack of infernal villains,' 119. 

'It's a braw time for the cannel makers when the king is sick, honest 

man ! ' 92. 
' It's a cauld heart that canna warm it's ain drink,' 75. 



Index. 23 1 



' It's a' very true, but a kiss and a tinnefu' o' cauld water maks a gey wersh 
breakfast,' 61. 

* It 's like Cun and the haggis ; it 's gaan gear,' jj. 

' It will be lang to the day when ye hae onything o' this kind to do,' 105. 

* It would be so curious to hear what these simple uneducated people had to 

say,' 58. 

* It wad hae been sma' pleasure to me to rin about naked in a garden, eating 

green apples,' 85. 

* I 've a coo noo,' 177. 

' I wadna care sae muckle about stablin' my beast inside, but it's anither 
thing mysel' gain' in,' 127. 

* I was e'en thinkin it was gayan tooiUy 125. 

* I wish the bodie be na fey,' 75. 

* I wonna be obstinate, but I wonna do't,' 76. 

* I would hae naething to say to thae impious vessels,' 79. 

* I wunner whaur that is,' 49. 

Jacobite story, 181. 

* Jeems Robson, ye are sleepin',' 13. 

* Jemmy, fat was the hinner end o' Pharaoh ?' 70. 
Jockteleg, 71. 

Joe MTherson, 6. 

* John, I saw a brock gang in there,' 102. 
Johnson, Dr. and the Duchess of Douglas, 201. 
Johnstone, Miss Sophia of Hilton, 81, 82. 

Kay's Portraits, 147 note^ 157, 158. 

Kerr, Murder of Captain, by the Duke of Douglas, 194. 

Kilspindie, the laird of, and the laird of Tannachy-Tulloch, 73. 

King George III. and the Aberdeen bailie, 77. 

King George the Third's opinion of Mr. Barclay of Ury and Lord Mon- 

boddo, 153. 
Kinloch, Lord, 120. 
Knox, John, 218. 

' Laird, will ye tell them to bury me whaur I'll lie across at your feet ?' 47. 
Laird of Logan, 94, 95. 

* Lass wi' the braw plaid, mind the puir,' 26. 
Lauderdale, Lord, and the Lauder fool, 113, 114. 
Lauderdale, Duke of, 107, 



2^2 Index. 



Laurie, Mr., of Kirkmichael, Ayrshire, 25, 
Lawson, Rev. Dr. George, of Selkirk, 127. 
Lay of the Last Minstrel, extract from, 219. 

* Lay of the Last Ministr^^,' 96. 

Leighton, Archbishop, and the lady's dream, 129; a prisoner in his own 

house, 130. 
Leslie, Rev. Mr., of Morayshire, 126. 
' Let's pree 't,' 156. 

* Like a hen on a het girdle,' 74. 

* Like an ill rinnin' trackie,' 61. 
' Like snaw afF a dike,' 75. 
London, Bishop of, xxx. 

Lord's Supper, more frequent celebration of, in country parishes, 144. 
Lovat, Lord, 216. 

M'CuBBiN, Rev. Mr., 97. 
Mackenzie, Mr., of Muirtown, 15. 
Macneil, Lady, 14. 

* Maggy-wi'-the-mony-feet,' 164. 

* Man, John, you should never drink except when you're dry,' 127. 
' Man, ye're skailing- a' the water,' 79. 

Alarriages, newspaper notices of, 172-174. 

Marriage of Miss Peggie Douglas and the Duke of Douglas, 192. 

* Marry for love, and work for siller,' 61. 
Masterful beggars, 140. 

* Master Jemmy, dinna dunt; ye think ye're duntin't into me, and ye're 

just duntin 't oot o' me,' 65. 
Matheson, Priest, 16. 
Meadowbank, Lord, 159, 160. • 

* Me and Pitt and Pitfour,' 53. 
Melville, Andrew, 218. 
Melville, Lord, 183. 
Menzies of Pitfodels, 15. 
Methven, Lord, 159, 167. 
Miller, Mr., of Dalswinton, 18. 
Milligan, Rev. Dr., of Elie, 98. 

* Mi mou's as big for puddin' as it is for kail,' 124. 

* Mind ye tell him the house is freed, 7. 
Minister's daughter on the cutty stool, 10. 

' Miss S 's compliments, and she deed last nicht at aicht o'clock, 52. 



Index. 233 



Monboddo, Lord, 150 ; his speculations regarding the origin of the human 

race, 150, 151 ; in the Court of King's Bench, 153. 
Montrose lady's protest against the use of steam-boats, 79 ; her reason for 

not subscribing to the Volunteer fund, 80. 
' Mony a time has he threatened to come down with me, and I kenned he 

would keep his word some day,' 94. 

* Mr. Broon, what gars your horse's tail wag that way ?' 125. 
' Much about it, my Lord,' 149. 

' My cuddy winna eat ony thing but nettles and thristles,' 179. 

* My faith, if ye ettle him to rise again, ye 're no his frien' to put that stane on 

him,' 25. 
' My father picked up your grandfather's head when the boys were kicking it 

about the streets of Carlisle,' 88. 
' My heart, don't trouble yourself; he is a young man, and may draw in a 

chair for himself,' 127. 
' My maister nifFered me for a powney,' 168. 

* Nae doot he might be a peer, but it would be a peer o' anither tree,' 95. 
' Na, na, it's nae cross, for we're baith true Hieland,' 181. 

' Na, na ; tak yer spoilt deevils wi' ye,' 81. 

' Na, na, they cam t' me wi' auld kists, and I sent them away i' new anes,' 175. 

Nelson's signal at Trafalgar, 106. 

' Never mind, we'll make them saft wi' butter,' 137. 

Newton, Lord, 157. 

' No anither drap ; neither het nor cauld,' 39. 

* No a rantin*, tantin', tearing wind, but a noohin, soughin, winnin' wmd,' 9. 

* No, no, ye may go and lock the door on them, btct be sure you lock it fast,' 

130. 

* Noo, Major, you may tak our lives, but ye'll no tak our midden,' 56. 
' Noo, Mr. Jeems, let drive at them, just as they are !' 93. 

' Noo, Mrs. Scott, ye hae spoilt a",' 48. 

* Nor stand in sinners' way,' 20. 

Notes taken at advising the action of damages, Cunningham v. Russell,. 159- 

167. 
' No that gleg i' the uptack,' 75. 

* Not like the little sinfu Jiddlies that the}'- play at dancing parties,' 109. 

* Now, billies, supposing I'm a deacon, mind I can be spoken to at ony time,' 

68. 
'Now, gentlemen, fah tee, fah tee,' 185. 



234 Index. 



Observances of the Roman Catholic Church, 210. 

* Occasions,' 28. 

* Och, and ye bother me,' 62. 

* Od, I daursay I wzdl tak anither gless,' 100. 

* Oh, doggie, doggie, and div ye live wi' your uncle tae, that ye are sae thin ? ' 

120. 

* Oh, Hairy, man : hairy, man, I hae ye noo ; I hae ye noo,' 65. 
' Oh, vera good, mem; it's just some strong o' the apple,* 124. 

* Old be a booter floi,' xxviii. 
Old-fashioned prejudices against the French, 81. 
Old Scottish conviviality, 34. 

Old Scottish domestic servant, 45. 
Old Scottish ladies, 78. 

* Olim marte nunc arte,' 95. 

* O, man, Wattie, if you have a wardrope in you wame, I wish 3'ou would 

vomit me a pair o' breeks,' 63. 
' Oo, jest what gars your tongue wag ; it's fashed wi' a wakeness, 125. 
Order of St. Andrew of Scotland, 217. 

* Origin and Progress of language, 151 note. 

* O, she's fine, I hae ta'en her tae Banchory'-,' 174. 

* Ou ay, gasped the sufferer, Lord be thankit, a' the bunkers are fu,' 113. 

* Ou ay, ye ken a body when he kas ony thing j 112. 

* Ou ay, you're a' keen aneuch to get me anither wife, but no yin o' ye offers 

to gie me anither cow,' 118. 
< Ou, I liket it a' the better,' 52. 

* Ou mem, it's Jock,' 50. 

* Ou, on}'- time atween ten and twa,' 99. 

* Ou, priest, fat's come o' the auld pyet ?' 16. 

* Ou, the wares might be gude enough, though the deil gat 'Ccio. pachnatt^ 98. 
' O weerie o' the toom pouch,' 117. 

Pagan, Mr., Cupar-Fife, 159 iiote. 
Patronymic of Dochart, 128. 
Peculiarities of Scottish language, 56. 
Pendreich, Lady, 136. 

* Peter's letters,' 28. 

* Pit owre a bit prayer,' 76. 
Pluggi?tg, 43. 



Index. 235 



Polkemmet, Lord, 64 ; and Harry Erskine, 65 ; and * Maister Askine,' 96 ; 

159, 164. 
Prayer for wind, 9. 

Preaching matches at sacramental solemnities, 29. 
Presbyterian observances, 137. 
' Press the jeelies ; they winna keep,' 46. 
Preston, Sir Robert, 183. 

Pretender, the, and Lord Perth at Douglas Castle, 194. 
Primitive Methodists, xxxiv-xxxvii. 
Pringle of Torwoodlee, 66. 
Professions of religion, 32. 

* Property qualification,' 177. 
Proverbs, 74. 

'Prutchee, mou ; prutchee, madame,' 71. 
Public censure from the pulpit, 10. 
Puseyism, 209. 

Quaint intimation from the pulpit, 105- 

Rab Hamilton and Dr. Auld of Ayr, 114, 115. 

Rae, Lord Justice-Clerk, 165. 

Rankin, Mr., of Carluke, 99. 

Reason for accepting the office of eldership, 178. 

* Received from Mr. '■ by the hands of the hangman of Stirling, his doer, 

the sum of ,' 176. 

Religious division in Scotland and England, 205-213. 
Religious feelings and religious observances, i, 

* Remember Mr. Thamson ; no him at the green, but oor ain Mr. Thamson,' 126. 
Reminiscences of English local and provincial life and character, xvii. 
Retrospect, 214. 

River Dochart and the McGregors, 128. 

* Robbie A' thing,' 128. 
Rockville, Lord, 153. 
Roxburghe, John Duke of, 57. 

Sandy M'Lauchlin the betheral, 68. 

* Saw't wi' factors, ma lord ; they are sure to thrive everywhere,' 112. 

* Say awa', sir, we're a' sittin' to cheat the dowgs,' 19. 
Scott, Dr., Minister of Carluke in 1770, 100. 



236 



Index. 



Scott, Rev. Robert, 106. 

Scott, Rev. R. A., vicar of Cranwell, 69. 

Scott, Sir Walter, 62, 73 ; and the old lady, 93 ; quotation from Guy Man- 

nering, 109 ; 149, 220. 
Scottish dialect, differences of, 185. 

dinner-party, 183. 

hospitality, 38. 

household fools, 110. 

Judges, 146-149. 

nobleman in the Canongate Jail, 119. 

stories of wit and humour, 89. 

Serfdom of farm-servants and colliers, 168. 

Servant girl's prayer for Mr. Thamson, 126. 

Shaw, Samuel, 48. 

Sheep dogs in churches, 19. 

Shirra, Rev. Mr., 58 ; his prayer for the young preacher, 59. 

Siddons, Mrs., and the General Assembly in 1784, 26. 

* Sit in a box drawn by brutes,' 152. 
Skinner, Rev. John, of Langside, 89. 
Sleeping in church, 13. 

Small, Mr., of parish of Stair, Ayrshire, 12. 

' Sneck the door,' 186. 

' Snib the door,' 186. 

' Some things I ken, and some I dinna ken,* 116. 

Spartan broth, 152. 

Spottiswoode, Mrs., of Spottiswoode, gS- 

Squabbling among Scottish servants, 50. 

Stained-glass windows in churches as memorials of the departed, 4. 

Standard of morals of England and Scotland, 204, 205. 

Stephen, Mr. T., 74. 

Stewart, Sir John, of Grandtully, 199. 

St. George of England, 217. 

' Stop a minute, and gie me a ha'porth of ho?iey blobs, 216. 

* Stop, laird, ye may put ijt what ye like, but ye maun tak naething 

07it,^ 123. 

Stowel, the late Lord, 86. 

* Streik the red ba' on the north -wast side, and ye would pockat it,' 70. 
Stuart, Lady, of Castlemilk, 146 note. 

Superstitions, 30. 

' Sup weel at the kail,' 128. 



Index. 237 

Swine, superstition regarding, 30. 

' Taigle,' 75. 

* Tak' your Resurrection^ an' I '11 lay my lug ye '11 beat ever>' clute o' them,' 

29. 
' Tarn, we 're getting auld now ; you'll tak' a wife, and when I dee you '11 get 
my share o' the grund,' 175. 

* Tastes differ,' 107. 
Tent preaching, 140, 

* Tired ! did ye say, my man ; Lord, man, if you 're half as tired as I am, I 

pity ye,' 99. 
' That's a lee, Jemmie,' 157. 

* That's het,' 75. 

' That's just the way wi' you when there's ony fash or trouble,' 175. 

The Aberdonian's sovereign, 178. 

' The best will make a mistak',' 135. 

' The Cottar's Saturday Night,' 141. 

The Fife laird and the church plate, 123. 

The * crack i' the kirkyard,' 180. 

* The fire's weel aneuch,' 46, 49. 

* The fool that came to scoff remained to pray,' 141. 

' The king will come in the cadger's road some day,' 126. 

* The king, ye ken wha I mean,' 181. 
The laird of .Brotherton and his goose, 66. 
The peer and the sergeant, 118. 

* The poor parish of Abercorn had been fed out o' a toom spoon that day,' 58. 
' There 's just twa in the dish, and they maun be keepit for the strangers,' 50. 

* There's nae need to gang to the kirk noo, for everybody gets a newspaper,' 

180. 

* There's some \ the bottle, mem,' 49. 

* There 's the wind o' the Murrays,' 73. 

* The street rose up and struck me in the face,' 154. 

* The trade of Glasgow and the outward bound,' 35. 
' The Two Cosmos,' 96 note. 

' Then I '11 no gang,' 9. 

' The sacks of Joseph's brethren were ripit,' 23. 

' The tongue no man can tame — ^James Third and Aucht^ i8r. 

* They're a' han' wailed this time,' 29. 

' They're shentlemen, an' they wudna rin,' 184. 
Thomas, Archdeacon, xxxvi, xxxvii. 



238 



Index. 



Thomson, Rev. Dr. Andrew, of Edinburgh, 124, 176. 
Thomson's Acts of Parliament of Scotland, no. 

* Torwoodlee, there's your jug,' 66. 

' Train up a child, and away he do go,* xxxi. 

'Troth, mem, they're just the gudeman's deed claes, and there are nane 
better i' the parish,' 5. 

Unity amongst professing Christians desired, 213. 

Watchixg the dead after interment, 133. 
Wauchope, Mrs., of Niddrie, and Soph Johnstone, 81. 

* We aye think the selvidge the wakest bit o' the wab,' 94. 
Webster, Dr. Alexander, a five-bottle man, 40. 

' Weel, I am just in the pulpit ilka Sabbath as usual,' 69. 

' Weel-fa'ard,' 75. 

' Weel, minister, what think ye o' this dancing?' 101. 

' Weel, sir, that's the way they spell the name in our country,' 129. 

'Weel, sir, that's what I'm aye doin', for I 'm never slockin'd,' 127. 

* Weel weel, Jenny, my woman, we'll just pit you in the Govh?\s Jirsi, and 

gin ye dinna lie quiet, we '11 try you sine in Stra'von, 8. 

* Well, John, I suppose we must go,' 53. 

' Well, father, you see what you've driven him to,' 33. 

' Well, he do preach the gospel as far as he do know^ xxxv 

' Well, if they get the word elsewhere, so be it,' 130. 

' We'll let the saw seek the sair, mem,' 137. 

' We '11 make them thick wi' butter,' 137. 

' Well, Saunders, how did you like the sermon to-day ? ' 176. 

'We mak a dishclout o't,' 90. 

' We never absolve ti/l after three several appearances^' 156. 

' Were not swine forbidden under the law, and cursed under the gospel ? ' 30. 

* Whae's that fau'n, John?' 102. 

* What care I, Tom ; I have sworn to be Duchess of Douglas, or never to 

mount a marriage bed,' 196. 
' What gars the laird of Garscadden luk sae gash ? ' 42. 
' What I heard was neither law nor gospel, spirit nor letter, for it was nothing 

at all,' xxxvii. 
' What news the day ? ' 97. 
' What's to become o' the puir whales ?' 79. 
' Whaur did ye get that coat ?' 116. 



Index. 239 



* When he was taken there was found in his pocket a volume of your philo- 

sophical works, and Boston's * Fourfold State,' ' 33. 

* Which half ; the upper or the lower ? ' 39. 
Whisky, the evil spirit of Scotland, 204. 
White, Mr., of Stockbrigs, 189, 196. 

' Why, zur, it be our way,' xxxiii. 

* Wife at the braid mailing, mind the puir,' 26. 
Wightman, Dr., of Kirkmahoe, 18. 

' Will any man presume to tell me that a Beetle is not a Beetle, and that a 

Louse is not a Louse ?' 162. 
Will Speir's opinion of the weather, 112. 

* Willy, I'm deeing, and as ye '11 hae the charge o' a' I have, mind that as 

much whisky is to be used at my funeral as there was at my baptism,' 37. 
Wilson, Mrs., of Preston, 187. 
Witchcraft in Yorkshire, xx. 

Wood, Mr., and the bellman of Craigie parish, 121. 
Woodhouselee, Lord, 164. 

* Ye ken, an' I ken, but, laird ! God kens,' 17. 

* Ye '11 bide here for ten meenonts, and gin naebody comes forrit in that time, 

ye can gang awa hame,' 122. 

* Ye '11 only get credit for ihepemiy,'' 123. 

' Ye '11 perhaps be of the name of Grah'm yersell, sir,' 182. 

' Ye needna find faut wi' me, Maister Jeems, / hae been langer abotit the 

place than yersell,^ 53. 
' Yer maist obedient hummil servant, Tannachy-Tulloch,' 73. 

* Yes, my dear, day by day continually do cry,' xxx. 
' Ye shud hae steekit your neive upo' that,' 73. 

' Yet did the virgins of Israel lament him, for he was comely in person,' 63. 

* Ye've been lang Cook, Cooking them, but you've dished them at last,' 125. 
' Ye wad nae doot gie him the offices o' the church,' 16. 

Yorkshire in the beginning of the century, reminiscences of, xviii ; funeral 

customs in, xxi. 
' You buy him as you see him ; but he's an honest beast,' 94. 

* You maunna expect that I am to gang clank clanking through Heeven 

lookin' for your folk,' 7. 

* You must walk first that I may see your tail, 151. 

* You said my wig wasna kaimed this mornin', my lad, but I think I 've redd 

your head for you,' 127. 



■i f» 



.© 









■J. A^ 














^% ^^^^ ^^^x"^ .^.^^- 



'^o 0^" 



\\ 



vOo. 















S ^ '■ "^ ^ ., 













v>' 










LIBRARY OF 



CONGRESS 




003 864 465 8 



